Odisha government orders probe against tainted BJD MLAs

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday ordered a vigilance inquiry against four Biju Janata Dal MLAs who allegedly demanded money to facilitate setting up of industries in their assembly constituencies.

The matter has come to the notice of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and he has taken it very seriously following which he has ordered for an impartial probe, said a statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

Notably, a local television channel on Monday aired video footages where four BJD MLAs were demanding crores of rupees from industrialists to give No Objection Certificate (NOC) and facilitate land acquisition in their constituencies.

The four BJD MLAs are Susant Kumar Behera, Seemarani Nayak, Anam Nayak and Bijay Kumar Nayak.

While Seemarani Nayak was seen demanding Rs 40 crore to give NOC and garner public support for a textile industry in her constituency, Susant Behera demanded Rs 8 crore for facilitating land acquisition and giving NOC to set up a power plant.

Bijay Nayak demanded Rs 5 crore for allowing setting up of a power plant in Karanjia. Bhawanipatna MLA Anam Nayak also demanded money for allowing a power plant.

Meanwhile, the opposition Congress and BJP took out rallies in the constituencies of the tainted MLAs demanding their resignation.