To
All the
Ministers, Govt. of Odisha, Bhubaneswar
All the MLAs, Odisha Legislative Assembly, Bhubaneswar
Sub- An appeal
for raising a question in the Assembly on the cryptic foreign visit of Sri
Naveen Patnaik, former Chief Minister with his 5T Public Servant Sri V.K.
Pandian including Sri Rabikant, former Resident Commissioner, New Delhi
resulting embezzlement of few crores of public fund deserves your demand for an
inquiry by CBI
Sir
We the Social
Activists working for transparency and governance reform in Odisha bring to the
notice of your esteemed office the following fact of serious concern of the public at large for raising
the matter in the august assembly and
demand for inquiry.
1. In
view of series of News touching headlines of newspapers published in 2022 and
2023 about foreign visits of Sri Naveen
Patnaik , Former Chief Minister along
with Sri V.K. Pandian and dozens of
officers and massive propaganda in Social media, we, out of curiosity had filed
series of RTI Applications in different offices/Departments seeking information about details of the foreign visit of Sri
Naveen Patnaik, former Chief
Minister who led the delegation to different countries, purpose and outcome of the visit and expenses
made for it . The information supplied during
that time was incomplete and misleading and mostly denied citing some flimsy
reasons. vital information was suppressed. When the information was suppressed
by the officials, it was apprehended that there is something important
documents which are being deliberately kept secret to cover up misutilization
of Govt. money.
2. After
new Govt. came to power, we renewed our efforts again to access
the above-mentioned information by filling multiple RTI Applications in various
Department. It took several months to collate all the information by conducting
series of follow up action in terms of
filling RTI Applications and First Appeals repeatedly.
3. The official
order issued by Department of GA and PG dated 23.2.23 reveals that “ as a follow up to the Make- in-Odisha
Conclave 2022 wherein Japan had participated
as a Partner Country, the State Government had decided to send a
delegation of senior functionaries to Japan led by Naveen Patnaik, the then
Chief Minister for attracting investments, manufacturing trade promotion and
tourism.” IPICOL was entrusted to coordinate
the programme. FICCI was awarded the work to manage the total event of the Investors’ Meet in Japan on behalf of the
Govt. As per the information obtained
from IPICOL as well as OTDC, it is ascertained that OTDC booked Air ticket for members
of the delegation of 17 officials (Sri Pratap Keshari Deb, Former Minister, Sri
Pradeep Jena, the then Chief Secretary, Sri Hemant Sharma IAS, Sri Vineel
Krishna IAS, Bhupendra Singh Poonia IAS, IPICOL Officials Like Kalyan Charan
Mohanty, Deepak Singh, Varanasi Arjun and others) amounting Rs. 63 lakhs and a total amount of Rs. 9.80 crores advanced
to FICCI to meet all expenses of the 9-day
programme scheduled from 2rd to 11th April, 2023. (
Annexture-1)
4. it is
observed that Air ticket of Sri Naveen Patnaik and Sri V.K.Pandian was found missing. On query about missing of
Airticket of Sri Patnaik and Sri Pandian, OTDC as well as IPICOL responded no
such ticket had been booked for them. Then the question arises how did they visit
Japan to attend the conclave. Multiple RTI Applications were filed to different
departments, like Department of GA and PG, Department of Parliamentary Affairs,
office of Chief Minister, Department of Transport to access the information
about any flight booked for them. The information sought for is as follows
“Provide copy of all Bills along with all
annextures following which payments has been made against expenses for foreign
visit of Sri Naveen Patnaik, former Chief Minister along with other dignitaries
during 2022-23 and 2023-24”.
5. On
7.7.25, the Department of Transport, Govt. of Odisha supplied a Bill amounting
Rs. 1,63,02,880 (one crore sixty-three lakh two thousand eight hundred eighty)
paid against hiring of Charter Flight provided for Naveen Patnaik on 3.4.23 (from
Bhubaneswar to Singapore) and on 11.4.23 (from Bangkok to Bhubaneswar). It
means Sri Naveen Patnaik and Sri V.K.Pandian
had travelled to Japan via Singapore on 3.4.23 and returned to
Bhubaneswar via Bangkok (Annexture-2) . The question arises why both Sri
Patnaik and Sri Pandian went to Singapure by a special Aircraft and who are others
accompanied them to Singapore. This question was asked to Department of GA and
PG and office of the Chief Minister, Odisha. The PIO of both the offices responded non-availability of information
which requires a thorough inquiry by an Investigating Agency.
6. It is
surprising that FICCI has not submitted any copy of Bills about the stay of Naveen Patnaik and
V.K.Pandian in Japan. To find out the agency or person who paid the Bill and
total amount paid for it, series of RTI Applications were filed to different
offices including Department of Parliamentary Affairs. Tactical information
were asked broadly to Department of
Parliamentary Affairs on 8.2.25 which is as follows.
i.
Provide
date and duration in which Naveen Patnaik, former Chief Minister made foreign tour
and name of Ministers and Officers accompanied him and its purpose of foreign
visit
ii.
Provide name of -Ex-Minister and Ex-MLA MLA
who made foreign visit officially and privately, date of their visit and
purpose
iii.
Total expenses made for visit of former Chief Minister and his team (Trip
-wise)
iv. Total expenses made for foreign Visit of
Ex-Minister and Ex- MLAs
On 5.3.25, the PIO furnished expenses made in foreign visit
of Sri Naveen Patnaik along with delegation but did not mention name of the foreign
country to which Sri Patnaik Visited and kept it secret. (Annexture-3) .
7. Another
RTI Application dated 11.5.25 was filed to same Department of Parliamentary
Affairs, Government of Odisha seeking the following information in reference to
the abovementioned information.
“Provide
copy of all Bills along with all annextures following which payments has been
made against expenses for foreign visit of Sri Naveen Patnaik, former Chief Minister
along with other dignitaries during 2022-23 and 2023-24.
On
22.5.25, the Department of Parliamentary Affairs provided the following
information.
“The
expenditure made towards visit of delegation led by former Chief Minister to
Italy and to Japan had been paid to the office of Chief Resident Commissioner,
Government of Odisha, New Delhi. The payment had been made under the account
had “Demand No. 29-2013-Council of Ministers -108-Tour Expenses-1406-Tour
Expenses of Ministers and Deputy Ministrs-06001-Travel Expenses (Voted)”. (Annexture-4)
8. To
find out all Bill and Vouchures paid for Japan and Italy visit of Sri Naveen
Patnaik and Sri V.K.Pandian, RTI Application was submitted to the PIO, office
of Chief Resident Commissioner, New Delhi. On 27.10.25, the PIO sent copy of
letter No. 1727/CRC dated 21.6.25 addressed to the OSD-cum-Additional Secretary,
Parliamentary Affairs Department. The content of the letter is as follows.
“ xxxxxxx details of Bill and Vouchures ( in original) in respect of foreign visit of
former Chief Minister, Odisha amounting Rs. 67,65,576/- only towards visit of Japan
and Rs. 82,92,449/- only towards visit to Italy and Dubai”. (Annexture-5)
9. Again,
RTI Application was filed to the PIO, Department of Parliamentary Affairs
seeking copy of all Bill and vouchures against expenses of foreign visit of
former Chief Minister. On 4.11.25, the PIO supplied complete copy of all the
Bill and vouchures against expenses made for Japan and Italy visit of former
Chief Minister and Sri Pandian. (
Annexture-6)
10. While
examining the Bill, some interesting and serious information was found that
ignoring OTDC, Sri Pandian and Sri Rabikant , former Resident
Commissioner had engaged two travel agencies based at Delhi namely TRAVEL
CONSULANTZ and Multinational Tours, Lucknow, Uttra Pradesh for booking Air
tickets and hotels and vehicles for visit of Sri Patnaik to Japan and Italy.
11. From
the bills, it was found that Sri Naveen
Patnaik, Sri V.K. Pandian and Sri Rabikant and Sri Chandra Sekhar Patra, Caretaker
of Sri Patnaik had visited to Rome, Italy and stayed there for 6 days from 20th
to 25th June, 2022 and returned to Dubai to join Investors’ Meet
held from 26th to 30th June, 2022.
12. RTI
Application was filed to many Departments including Department of GA and PG and
office of Chief Minister, Odisha and office of Chief Resident Commissioner, New
Delhi seeking details of itinerary and the purpose of visit of Italy. All the departments and offices
responded that no such information was available ( Annexture-7) Only one letter was
found from the Bills that is
an order of Governor dated 15.6.22 issued by GA and PG Dept. in
which the Governor has accorded sanction for visit of Sri Ravikant , IPS,
resident Commissioner to accompany the former Chief Minister as part of the
delegation , on the invitation of the World Food Program ( WFP) to visit their Headquarters in Rome to share
the transformational initiatives
by Government of Odisha in the
field of agriculture, Food Security, Livelihoods and Disaster Management (
Annexture-8). But we could not
get the copy of any single letter of invitation from any department of World
Food Programme, Rome from any department. Even there is no copy of any
correspondence made with Govt. of Italy or Rome for visit of Sri Naveen Patnaik
which is still mystery. The question is Why Sri Naveen Patnaik and Sri
V.K.Pandian and Sri Rabikant had visited Rome “ What is their motive / agenda behind such high-profile
and expensive tour at the cost of state exchequer (Rs. 83.00 lakh).
13. The moot
question is why Ravikant, IPS officer visited Rome accompanying Sri Naveen Patnaik.
Sri Ravikant is not expert in the field of Disaster Management and Food
Security to speak or make presentation in World Food Programme. Secondly, we
could not get the hotel Bill of Sri V.K. Pandian. Where did he stay in Rome? Did he visit some other countries from Rome
leaving Sri Naveen Patnaik at the disposal of Sri Ravikant. Who are others
visited and accompanied Naveen Patnaik.
During 2022, name of Sradha, a lady was discussed in media who
accompanied Naveen Patnaik to Rome. It
requires high-level inquiry by CBI to remove confusion, speculation from the mind
of the people of Odisha about his mysterious visit to Rome. The role of V.K.Pandian is very suspicious
which requires thorough inquiry.
14. The
Hotel Bill paid for Naveen Patnaik is Rs. 36 lakhs for six days stay in high
profile hotel named ROME CAVALIERI (Napoleon Suite). Why Naveen Patnaik stayed for six days in
Italy alone while Pandian left Rome to other countries for some other
work. What was Sri Naveen Patnaik doing
in Rome. Day-wise report and his itinerary is not available in any department. ( Bill- Annexture-8)
Area of Concern which
requires to be enquired by an investigative agency like CBI.
A.
Why Sri Naveen Patnaik and Sri V.K.Pandian went to
Singapore by special charter flight on 3.4.23
and stayed there before leaving for Tokyo. Who others had accompanied them from
Bhubaneswar to Singalore. The Dept. of GA and PG and Office of Chief Minister
and Department of Transport could not provide the information about name of the
persons travelled in Charter Flight from Bhubaneswar to Singapore. As the public money is involved, the people
of Odisha have right to know about it.
B.
Why Naveen Patnaik and Sri Pandian returned from Tokyo
to Bangkok and stayed there before returning to Bhubaneswar by special charter
flight.
C.
Why a private agency was paid Rs. 67 lakhs for booking flight from
Singapore to Tokyo and return flight from Tokyo to Bangkok and booking hotels
at Tokyo for Naveen Patnaik and Sri Pandian?
D.
Why Sri Naveen Patnaik and Sri V.K.Pandian and Sri Rabikant visited to Rome, Italy
for long six days from 20th
to 25th June, 2022? Why no documentary
proof of their visit or itinerary is not available in any Department?
E.
What is the purpose of visit of Sri Patnaik for
staying in Rome for six days. what was he doing there. Why itinerary of Naveen
Patnaik is not available.
F.
Why Ravikant, an IPS police officer accompanied Naveen
Patnaik to Rome?
G.
Where did Sri Pandian go from Rome? Not a single amount paid for hotel Bill of Sri Pandian. It is suspected that Sri
Pandian leaving Sri Naveen Patnaik at
the disposal of Sri Ravikant visited to
some other countries with ulterior motive which requires investigation.
H.
The outcome of visit of Sri Naveen Patnaik to Italy
and Japan is big zero. It is completely wastage of public money. All the officers are
required to submit their tour diary.
We appeal the
hon’ble Ministers and MLAs of all the political parties to raise it in the
forthcoming assembly session and demand
an inquiry into it for bringing fact and
truth behind foreign visit of Sri Naveen Patnaik, former Chief Minister along
with his associates.
Yours Sincerely
Pradip Kumar
Pradhan
M-993784382
Date-4.2.26
An appeal for raising a question in the Assembly on the cryptic foreign visit of Sri Naveen Patnaik, former Chief Minister with his 5T Public Servant Sri V.K. Pandian including Sri Rabikant, former Resident Commissioner, New Delhi resulting embezzlement of few crores of public fund deserves your demand for an inquiry by CBI
|  Thu 5 Feb, 00:50 (8 days ago) | |||
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