Kendrapara police on Friday registered criminal proceedings against MP Baijayant Panda on the charge of filing incorrect affidavit during the 2014 general election.
In pursuant to directions issued by the Kendrapara Sub Divisional Magistrate Court on Thursday, a case was registered against the sitting MP under Sections 419 (cheating by personation), 420 (cheating) of the IPC, and section 125-A of the Representation of People Act, said Sub Divisional Police Officer, Rajib Lochan Panda.
Investigations into the matter are underway and police will verify the poll documents. If required, police may also question Panda in this connection, he added.
It may be recalled here that the SDJM court here acting on a petition by Dillip Das, a resident of Thakurhaat, had issued directions to the police to register a criminal case against the sitting Lok Sabha MP and submit a compliance report to the court by 25 July.
The petition maintained that Panda was officiating as Vice Chairman of IMFA and was drawing a salary in crores. But in the election affidavit, he had wilfully concealed the facts which went against the spirit of Representation of People Act.
It is pertinent to note that the high profile Panda has fallen out of favour of the BJD high command since last three to four years and recently he was suspended from the party for alleged anti-party activities.
Speculations in the ruling BJD circles here are that Panda is likely to switch over to the BJP but his entry is being resisted by Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Panda was unavailable for comments.