Congress, BJD, BJP trade barbs as senior IAS officer faces corruption allegations

Bhubaneswar, Dec 15: The Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) decision to summon senior Odisha IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi in a bribery case has sparked significant political debate in the state.

Congress leaders have expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the CBI’s probe into the case, which involves a bribe of ₹10 lakh. Senior Congress leader Jayadev Jena voiced skepticism, stating that the investigation might not yield any substantial results. He suggested that the attention surrounding the case could fade over time without delivering any meaningful outcomes. Jena also claimed that similar corruption cases during the previous BJD regime were allegedly neutralized by the BJP-led central government under Narendra Modi. He speculated that this case might face a similar fate.

In response, senior BJD leader Sudhir Samal defended the party’s track record, highlighting the state's Vigilance Department’s efforts against corruption during the BJD’s tenure. He pointed to the party's policy of "zero tolerance" for financial irregularities and emphasized the importance of resolving corruption cases quickly and without delay. Samal also referenced action taken against a senior IAS officer in the ORHDC scam as evidence of the BJD’s commitment to tackling corruption.

Meanwhile, the ruling BJP reiterated its stance on combating corruption, emphasizing its commitment to strict action against anyone involved in such practices, whether bureaucrats or politicians. BJP MLA from Bhubaneswar-Ekamra, Babu Singh, stated that the government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, has adopted a "zero-tolerance" approach to irregularities. He assured that no corrupt officials or leaders would be allowed to escape accountability.