Cuttack: The Orissa High Court (HC) today issued an interim stay on the order of the Kendrapara SDJM court in connection with a poll affidavit case against MP (Member of Parliament) Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda.The HC has ordered a stay on the police investigation and legal proceedings in connection with the case.
Earlier, a case was filed against Panda alleging him of submitting false affidavit during the 2014 general elections following which a case was registered at the Kendrapara SDJM court. The court on May 1, had ordered the police to submit a report after registering a case and launching an investigation into the matter.
Citing that the order of the SDJM court is illegal and should be dismissed, MP Panda had moved the High Court.
Today’s order came after the preliminary hearing of the case by the HC.
Meanwhile, the next hearing of the case has been scheduled on June 21.
“Justice B R Sarangi today ordered a stay on police investigation and any other related proceedings in connection with the case. He has fixed the next date of hearing on June 21,” said Panda’s lawyer, Tarunkanti Biswal.
Panda’s political secretary, Jyoti Prakash Ghose said “This case was not backed by any concrete evidence. Ultimately, truth will prevail. High Court today stayed the police investigation and all other judicial proceedings.”
Earlier on March 15, a resident of Harianta of Cuttack district, Gopal Lenka had also filed a plea at the SDJM court through his lawyer Akshay Nayak alleging Panda had concealed information in his poll affidavit.
The petitioner had sought registration of case against the parliamentarian under section 125 (A) of the Representation of the People Act.
Prasanta Patnaik