Compensation and Penalty Collected from Mining Companies as per direction of SC

Compensation and Penalty Collected from Mining Companies by Govt. of Odisha as per Direction of Supreme Court

Dear  friends

While  enquiring into multi-crore  mining Scam  in Odisha, Justice Shah Commission  has detected  huge  irregularities  and illegalities  in  the   field  of allotment  of Mining lease  by Govt. of Odisha  to  Mining  Companies, violation of   11 Laws  by  Mining  Company  in collusion of  State  Govt. officials, over –exploitation  of  Mineral  and ores  by the  Companies,  illegal  mining  exploration beyond lease  area, causing  air  and water, and environment  pollution  etc.  The  Commission  has reported  loot  of 60,000 crores  to State  Exchequer  by  Mining  lease Holders  in connivance  with  officials  of Mining Dept. Forest  Officials, revenue  officials  and police . While  hearing a PIL case  seeking CBI  inquiry  into Mining Scam, Supreme Court  had  imposed  compensation  and penalty  amount on  the  Mining lease holders  for  violation of  laws , over-exploitation  of  Minerals , theft  of  iron ore  flouting all laws and regulations.

RTI was  filed  to director of Mines seeking  information about    list of Mining lease  holders  with address who paid  compensatory penalty  as per order  of  Supreme Court during 2017, amount paid  each of them with date of payments . On 31.1.2020, the PIO  has  provided  the  following  information.

Total   Compensation  demanded  under EPA &FCA	RS. 19174,38,39,806.00
Total penalty  amount   demanded towards undisposed Stock with interest	Rs. 326,63,59,195.00
Total amount demanded  towards  compensation for violation of MP / CTO	Rs. 1890,83,03218.00
Total  amount  imposed	Rs. 21391, 85,02,219.00
Total amount  paid  by the  Companies  till yet	Rs. 15326,63,88,256

Major  Companies  who are  yet to  comply SC order  as  follows.

·         Sarada Mines (P) Ltd. ------------------------------------   Rs. 1938,85,68,640.00

·         Mideast Integrated Steels                                                Rs. 924,75,24,283.00

·         BPME  Limited -----------------------------------             Rs. 636,52,63,909.00

·         B.K.Mohanty ----------------------------------------     Rs. 384,74,79,448.00

·         G.S.I. Limited ------------------------------------------                   Rs. 273,12,48,438.00

·         Mala Roy  and Others ---------------------------------       Rs. 224,11,13,,120.00

·         BPME Limited --------------------------------------------  Rs. 203,14,91,596.00

·         Dr. S. Pradhan -------------------------------------------   Rs. 123,06,61,208

and Many  more

Details of Compensation and penalty Collected  from Mining Lease Holders  by Govt. of Odisha  for violation under section 21(5)  as per  direction of Supreme Court of India

Sl. No	Name  of Mining Lease  Holders	Lease Name/ Location	Area ( in Hect)	Total  amount paid towards compensation under EPA &FCA  and  undisposed Stock  with interest ( in Rs)	Compensation demanded for violation of MP/CTO (in Rs.)	Total amount paid as Compensation (for MP, CTO) and applicable interest ( in Rs.)	Total  amount paid as Compensation ( for EC, FC,MP/CTO) with applicable interest & undisposed stock (Rs.)
1	ESSEL Mining Industries	Jilling Rangalata Iron & Mn. Ore Mines	456.10	1697,34,31,347	128,12,05,207	148,21,26,265	1845,55,57,612
2	R.P.Sao	Guali Iron Ore Mines	365.03	1161,20,00,000	29,39,18,019	0	1161,20,00,000
3	ESSEL Mining Industries	Kasla Iron Ore Mines	134.73	1105,26,43,848	5,47,83,727	6,33,75,016	1111,60,18,864
4	K.I.S Ahuliwala	Nuagoan Iron Ore	767.28	1074,93,88,658	37,81,07,436	0	1074,93,88,658
5	OMC Limited	Daitari Iron Ore Mines	190.20	754,41,18,753	36,95,53,235	42,55,63,330	796,96,82,083
6	Serajuddin & Co	Balda Block Iron Ore Mines	335.84	757,05,43,324	102,57,53,763	0	757,05,43,324
7	OMC Limited	Kurmitar Iron Mines	1212.47	510,42,96,580	104,17,56,320	119,96,46,621	630,39,43,201
8	Ptanaik Minerals (P) Limited	Joriahal iron Ore Mines	106.53	484,57,69,553	96,37,09,626	0	484,57,69,553
9	Feegrade & Co (P) Ltd.	Rengalibeta & Nadikasira Iron and Mines	121.41	424,68,34,136	0	0	424,68,34,136
10	OMC Limited	Gandhamardhan Iron Ore , Block-B	1590.82	322,44,41,796	207,30,54,700	238,72,50,279	561,16,92,075
11	BICO Limited	Nadidihi Iron & Mineral Mines	73.86	300,07,44,241	11,60,445	0	300,07,44,241
12	Rungta Mines  Limited	Jajang Iron & Mining Ore  Mines	666.15	277,48,69,667	0	0	277,48,69,667
13	Rungta Sons ( P) Ltd.	Oraghat Iron Mines	82.97	252,05,83,159	51,08,346	0	252,05,83,159
14	TISCO Limited	Joda East Iron Ore Mines	671.09	243,64,11,380	24,69,76,000	0	243,64,11,380
15	OMC Limited	Gandhardhan Iron Ore Block-A	618.58	311,64,34,469	8,42,54,133	9,70,23,133	321,34,58,297
16	K.N.Ram &Co	Roida  II Iron ore Mines	74.87	236, 36,05,259	19,90,86,433	0	236,36,05,259
17	Kaveep enterprises	Thakurani Iron Ore Mines	228.04	198,18,45,419	1,40,67,678	0	198, 18, 45,419
18	Vational Enterprises	Raikela Iron Mines	45.93	227,45,31,815	4,64,31,660	5,54,53,397	232,99,85,212
19	G.R.Mohanty	Raikela  and Tantra Iron & Mn Mines	67.59	207,94,42,000	38,68,33,199	44,37,71,760	252,32,13,760
20	Indrani Patnaik	Unchabali Iron Ore Mines	106.11	161,35,16,390	0	0	161,35,16,390
21	AMTC	Narayanpusi Iron & Mn Mines	349.25	144,02,08,421	27,74,49,941	0	144,02,08,421
22	BICO Limited	Tehrai Iron Mn. Mines	116.57	138,29,88,667	0	0	138,29,88,667
23	Jindal steel & Power Limited	Raikela Tantra Iron Mines	297.85	137,81,92,295	3,65,23,044	0	137,81,92,295
24	I.N.Patnaik	Bhanjpali Iron Ore	18.00	122,02,12,840	0	0	122,02,12,840
25	Kalinga Mining Corporation	Jurudi Iron Ore	73.23	111,37,80,768	40,01,02,769	0	111,37,80,768
26	Rungta Sons (P) Ltd.	Sanindpur  Iron & Bauxite Mines	147.10	109,26,17,668	0	0	109,26,17,668
27	M.L.Rungta	Silijoda  kalimati Iron Ore Mines	715.64	106,13,28,204	1,90,91,642	0	106,13,28,204
28	OMC Limited  worked  by IDCO Ltd.	Roida Block Iron Ore Mines	96.78	105,53,96,646	6,39,37,373	7,37,95,991	112,91,92,637
29	Tarini Minerals Pvt. Ltd.	Deojhar Iron Ore Mines	34.37	103,81,99,463	0	0	103,81,99,463
30	Lal Traders @ Agencies  (P) Ltd.	Badampahar Iron ore Mines	119.63	91,20,54,286	5,54,095	0	91,20,54,286
31	TISCO Ltd.	Khandabandh Iron Ore Mines	978.00	84,01,49,601	0	0	84,01,49,601
32	TISCO Ltd.	Katamati Iron Ore Mines	403.32	82,70,48,782	38,41,20,429	0	82,70,48,782
33	S.N. Mohanty	KIST ( Jaldihi) Iron Ore & Buaxite Mines	333.06	79,19,97,666	0	0	79,19,97,666
34	D. R. Patnaik	Murgabeda Iron Ore Mines	15.38	74,00,90,725	19,49,97,881	23,19,88,712	97,20,79,437
35	SAIL	Barisuan &Koita  Iron Mines	2486.38	66,89,42,781	90,19,71,684	0	66,89,42,781
36	TISCO Ltd.	Bamebari Iron Ore Mines	464.00	50,15,64,942	9,81,78,020	0	50,15,64,942
37	Penguin Trading & Agency Ltd.	Raikela &Tantra Iron mines	49.37	46,87,97,836	5,58,17,615	0	46,87,97,836
38	TISCO Ltd.	Joda West Iron Ore Mines	1437.72	47,09,19,071	2,64,74,469	0	47,09,19,071
39	Prabodh Mohanty	Nuagaon Iron Ore Mn. Mines	29.26	49,77,69,991	0	0	40,77,69,991
40	TISCO Ltd.	Guruda Tiring Pahad Mn. Ore Mines	169.00	35,49,28,268	24,93,22,411	0	35,49,28,268
41	M.G.Mohanty	Patadeba Iron Ores	19.43	31,37,53,735	0	0	31,37,53,735
42	G.S.Mishra & Sons  (P) Ltd.	Gorumahisani Iron Ore Mines	349.50	28,64,03,276	18,88,222	0	28,64,03,276
43	P.K.Ahuliwalla	Gonua	86.89	27,33,08,485	33,78,72,752	0	33,78,72,752
44	Korp Resources ( p) Ltd.	Tantra Iron Mines	72.56	18,81,80,072	10,76,124	12,20,826	18,94,00,898
45	ESSEL Mining Industries	Koira Iron & Mn. Mines	90.14	17,89,69,963	1,57,72,075	1,82,45,582	19,72,15,445
46	S.N.Mohanty	Raikela Iron Mines	18.32	13,94,85,919	6,58,03,856	0	13,94,85,919
47	K.C.Pradhan	Chamakpur Iron Ore Mines	31.69	11,55,88,524	10,26,25,814	0	11,55,88,524
48	Rungta Mines Limited	Kalmong Mineral Mines	218.53	11,38,10,744	0	0	11,38,10,744
49	Rungta Sons( P) Ltd.	Katasahi Mn. Ore mines	196.86	5,47,06,753	13,01,726	0	5,47,06,753
50	Rungta Mines Ltd.	Kanther Koira Mn. Mines	73.65	2,54,89,796	54,95,900	0	2,54,89,796
51	AMTC	Mahulsukha Mn. Mines	399.84	2,47,69,713	0	0	2,47,69,713
52	Kanakdhara Mining & Minerals Pvt. Ltd.	Bandhal Mn. Mines	28.02	1,83,73,070	8,77,754	0	1,83,73,070
53	Prabodh Mohanty	Ganua Iron & Mn. Mines	13.00	1,31,45,476	3,45,08,394	0	1,31,45,476
54	M.G.Mohanty	Patabeda Iron & Mn. Minerals	14.00	1,29,11,723	2,91,96,785	0	1,29,11,723
55	M.G.M. Mineral  Ltd.	Patadeba Iron Mines	28.40	64,89,953	0	0	64,89,953
56	Sri Kunal Das	Anajori Manganese Mines	18.49	3,51,707	0	0	3,51,707
57	Sarada Mines ( p) Ltd.	Thakurani Block & Iron Ore Mines	947.05	1938,85,68,640 ( Yet to  be paid)	11,03,38,200	0	0
58	Mideast Integrated Steels  Ltd.	Roida  Iron Ore Mines	104.68	924,75,24,283 ( Yet  to be paid )	9,63,78,990	0	0
59	BPME Ltd.	Thakurani Iron & Mn. Ore Mines	778.76	17,79,02,236  paid out of 636,52,63,909 Demanded	9,72,71,558	0	17,79,02,236
60	B.K.Mohanty	Uliburu Iron Ore Mines	56.94	384,74,79,448 ( Not paid Yet)	0	0	0
61	OMDC Ltd.	Bhadrasahi	998.705	522,58,16,405	51,98,24,510	70,37,93,498	592,96,09,903
62	G.S.I. Ltd	Putulipani Iron Ore Mines	100.15	273,12,48,438 ( Not yet paid)	43,00,61,432	0	0
63	Mala Roy & Others	Jalahuri Iron Ore Mines	182.11	224,11,13,,120 ( Not yet  paid)	80,68,70,883	0	1,01,00,000 (paid towards  only Undisposed stock with interest)
64	BPME Ltd.	Bhadrasahi Iron & Mn.  Ore Mines	254.95	9,36,11,558 Paid out of 203,14,91,596 demanded	6,15,47,537	0	9,36,11,558
65	National Enterprises	Sarindpur Iron & Mn. Mines	70.92	241,29,32,310	3,63,89,513	4,34,60,046	245,63,92,356
66	Dr. S. Pradhan	Balita Iron Ore Mines	34.75	123,06,61,208 ( Not yet paid)	21,22,59,892	0	0
67	Dr. S. Pradhan	Baitarani Iron Ore Mines	65.40	1,00,00,000 Paid out of 93,79,56,820 Demanded	5,40,21,109	0	1,00,00,000
68	T.B.Lal &Co	Jajang Iron Ore Mines	22.69	93,03,54,114 ( Not yet paid)	9,34,46,071	0	0
69	OMDC Ltd.	Belkundi Iron Ore Mines	1276.79	109,75,65,363	6,86,22,219	8,51,14,112	118,26,79,475
70	H.G.Pandya & Others	Jajang Ore Mines	100.17	86,41,20,698 ( Not yet paid)	17,76,82,560	0	0
71	OMC Ltd.	Unchabali-Balda  Nayagarh	861.52	86,38,99,603	25,66,19,213	29,56,81,579	115,95,81,182
72	B.C. Deb	Inganijharan Iron Ore Mines	114.93	116,84,30,828 ( Not yet paid)	0	0	0
73	O.M&M.(P) Ltd.	Orahuri Mn. Mines	51.48	80,65,67,971 ( Not yet Paid)	4,32,09,607	0	0
74	Kalinga Mining Corporation	Jurudi Iron Ore ( 12.691 ha.)	27.17	75,08,66,795	73,82,142		75,08,66,795
75	Bhanja Minerals ( P) Ltd.	Inganijharan Iron Ore Mines	246.31	73,09,49,491( Not yet paid)	12,37,46,528	0	0
76	TISCO Ltd.	Malda Mn. Minerals	822.00	71,31,07,580	25,71,57,300	0	71,31,07,580
77	Tarini Minerals Pt. Ltd.	Jurundi &Jajang Iron mines	66.37	67,33,84,159	41,59,036	0	67,33,84,159
78	Arjun Lodha	Balaguda Iron & Mn. Ore Mines	326.50	63,42,70,800 ( Not yet Paid)	3,95,64,203	0	0
79	B.C.Dagara	Suleipat Iron Mines	618.00	36,22,66,220	1,67,60,478	1,90,25,464	38,12,91,684
80	Zenith Mining ( P) Ltd.	Gonua Iron Mn. Mines	129.18	34,85,21,300 ( Not yet paid)	22,86,305	0	0
81	S.C.Padhee	Gurubeda Iron Ore Mines	49.77	1,40,00,000 paid out  of 27,71,73,835 demanded	9,13,44,647	0	1,40,00,000
82	OMC Ltd.	Khandabandh Iron ore Mines	366.31	27,39,18,597	13,26,83,183	15,28,80,108	42,67,98,705
83	OMC Ltd.	Sakradihi Iron Ore Mines	564.54	54,90,12,028	0	0	54,90,12,028
84	B.K.Das	Kasiabeda Iron Ore Mines	9.87	35,40,89,634 ( Not Yet  paid)	0	0	0
85	S.D.Sharma	Nuagaon Iron Ore  Mines	12.92	19,41,42,536 ( Not yet Paid)	5,91,89,726	0	0
86	Raj Kumar Agrawal	Champasar Mn. Mines	7.27	19,08,52,692 ( Not yet paid )	0	0	0
87	D.C.Das	Maharaj Pur	193.23	23,66,83,053 ( Not yet Paid)	13,56,118	0	0
88	OMDC Ltd.	Roida Bhadrasahi Iron Ore Mines	103.60	141,46,45,232	0	0	141,46,45,232
89	Kalinga  Mining Corporation	Jurudi Mn. Ore	54.75	14,46,49,281	13,30,221	0	14,46,49,281
90	Narayani Sons ( P) Ltd.	Surguturia Iron Ore Mines	99.78	14,13,84,209 ( Not yet  paid)	3,51,44,134	0	0
91	O.M&M (P) Ltd.	Patamunda  Mn. Mines	807.31	12,07,26,203	5,31,80,086	0	12,07,26,203
92	OMC Ltd.	Kasira Iron Mines	418.34	10,31,96,427	0	0	10, 31,96,427
93	OMDC Ltd.	Bagiaburu Iron Ore Mines	21.52	23,43,79,173	7,22,791	8,96,498	23,52,75,671
94	Tarini Minerals	Nuagaon Mn. Mines	7.85	10,71,84,642	32,18,708	36,91,728	11,08,76,370
95	K.C.Pradhan	Harmotto Iron Ore Mines	59.19	9,48,65,595	5,73,10,295	0	9,48,65,595
96	Matadin sarada	Khajuridihi Iron &  Mn. Mines	119.54	9,71,79,090	40,77,679	0	9,71,79,090
97	C.P.Sharma	Raikela Iron Mines	69.61	11,76,00,101	43,71,184	0	11,76,00,101
98	Basudev Agrawal	Urmunda Iron Ore Mines	82.03	8,48,44,674  ( Not Yet Paid)	4,94,49,080	0	0
99	B.D.Patnaik	Kalaparbat Iron Mines	25.63	8,96,01,825	5,24,61,342	0	8,96,01,825
100	D.C.Dagars	Ghusuria Iron Ore Mines	48.56	8,61,53,228 ( Not Yet paid)	3,41,972	0	0
101	S.A.Halim	Oraghat Iron Mn.	25.85	9,68,08,288	17,60,177	21,12,599	9,89,20,887
102	OMC Ltd.	Bhanjapali  Iron Mines	141.24	7,32,79,034	0	0	7,32,79,034
103	FACOR Ltd.	Katasahi Mn. Ore Mines	13.67	10,41,47,900( Not yet  paid)	0	0	0
104	OMC Ltd.	Banspani Iron Ore Mines	380.40	6,13,21,668	0	0	6,13,21,668
105	J.K.Choubey	Budharajpahad Iron & Mn. Ore Mines	8.13	2,13,21,872 ( Not yet paid)	3,33,472	0	0
106	K.C.Pradhan	Gonua Iron Mn. Mines	12.56	5,37,97,299	6,08,282	0	5,37,97,299
107	S.N.Dasmohapatra	Kolha Rudkela Mn. Ore Mines	36.47	4,83,78,747 ( Not yet  deposited )	2,79,14,019	0	0
108	Serajudin &Co	Guruda Mn. Ore Mines	40.06	6,92,98,143	0	0	6,92,98,143
109	S.D.Sharma	Raikela Iron Mines	14.93	3,38,27,117 ( Not yet  Paid)	0	0	0
110	O.M&M (P) Ltd.	Bhanjakusum Mn. Mines	8.50	3,08,83,673 ( Not yet Paid)	71,70,651	0	0
111	B.C.Dagars	Bhitaramada Iron Ore Mines	243.82	3,06,38,658	54,52,812	62,25,539	3,68,64,197
112	G.S.Choubey	Nangalsila Iron ore Mines	45.93	4,51,50,000	4,65,279	6,21,500	4,57,71,500
113	S.D.Sharma	Raika Iron Ore Mines	26.24	2,87,07,892 ( Not Yet Paid)	0	0	0
114	J.K.Choubey	Purunapani Bhuyanbasa	85.49	3,36,69,901 ( Not yet paid)	1,90,913	0	0
115	OMC Ltd.	Dubuna Mn. Ore Mines	1135.42	2,66,50,514	12,43,46,720	14,32,74,676	16,99,25,190
116	Sri M.R.Das	Khurigaon Manganese Mines	26.64	2,68,75,994	1,43,184	1,65,920	2,70,41,914
117	S.N.Mohanty	Unchabali Iron & Mn. Ore Mines	8.13	2,68,75,994	1,43,184	1,65,920	2,70,41,914
118	M.T.Syndicate	Bhulbeda Iron Ore Mines	62.32	5,97,15,887 ( Yet  to be paid)	0	0	0
119	Sun Alloys  & Minerals  Ltd.	Patamunda Mn. Minerals	81.20	2,03,00,895	0	0	2,03,00,895
120	B.S.Mishra	Kanther Koira Iron Mn. Mines	13.27	2,10,15,872 ( Yet  to be paid)	0	0	0
121	Tarini Minerals	TehraiIron Mn. Mines	29.07	2,28,35,295			2,28,35,295
122	K.C.Pradhan	Lakaraghat Iron & Mn. Ore mines	10.72	1,89,38,502	1,67,06.101	0	1,89,38,502
123	Kalinga Mining Corporations	Jurudi Iron Ore Mines	27.17	3,64,50,796	0	0	3,64,50,796
124	Patnaik minerals ( p) Ltd.	Joribahal Mn. Mineral Mines	14.74	1,37,01,353	8,99,858	0	1,37,01,353
125	S.C.Padhee	Bansapani Iron & Mn. Ore Mines	37.87	1,02,35,762	0	0	1,02,35,762
126	OMC Ltd.	Serenda Bhadrasahi & Barapada Kasia Iron	1734.57	1,06,40,149	194,04,70,483	223,47,95,251	224,54,35,400
127	Sri M.R.Das	Kashipur Managnese Mines	21.62	1.02,35,762	0	0	1,02,35,762
128	K.C.Pradhan	Parelipada Mn. Ore Mines	12.60	78,04,559	2,87,03,906	0	78,04,559
129	Narayani Sons ( p) Ltd.	Laupada Iron Ore Mines	141.34	3,15,97,227 ( Yet  to be paid)	0	0	0
130	Sri M.R.Das	Deojhar Iron Ore Mines	11.54	23,78,468	0	0	23,78,468
131	K.C.Pradhan	Naugaon Mn. Mines	39.89	6,36,576	60,10,610	0	6,36,576
132	T.B.Lal & Co	Kasia-Kolha-Sarapada	77.50	6,31, 005 ( Yet  to be paid)	0	0	0
133	R.P.Sao	Chormalda	141.12	47,89,532	0	0	47,89,532
134	TISCO Ltd.	Manmora	16.35	0	6,69,00,000	0	0
135	SAIL	Bolani	1321.45	0	47,49,46,999	0	0
136	R.B.Das	Kundrupani , Baitarani , RF	10.26	0	12,77,93,027	0	0
137	Dr. s. Pradhan	Ingani Jharan	18.70	0	4,19,275	0	0
138	S.A.Karim	Asanbani	1.16	0	5,53,75,179	0	0
139	K.J.S.Ahluwala	Panduliposhi	40.47	0	2,88,72,983	0	0
140	O.M&M(P) LTD.	Kusumdihi	31.55	0	2,52,45,280	0	0
141	O.M&M(P) LTD.	Sanpothali	23.29	0	23,01,578	0	0
142	S.N.Paul	Kohla-Budukela	9.70	0	88,64,373	0	0
143	BPME Ltd.	Dalki-KS Group	266.77	0	6,01,37,627	0	0
144	Feegrade & Co (P) Ltd.	Sarkunda	393.56	0	8,28,874	0	0
Total Amount  collected							15326,63,88,256

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date- 6.3.20

Petition to Odisha Information Commission for Protection of RTI Activists

To

Sri Sunil Kumar Mishra

State Chief Information Commissioner, Odisha

Toshali Bhawan,

Satya Nagar,

Bhubaneswar

Sub- Request for instituting an enquiry under Section 18 (3) of RTI Act into the facts and circumstances leading to coldblooded, barbarous murder of Ranjan Kumar Das, a prominent RTI user and activist and an anti-corruption whistle-blower, in the night of 31st January 2020 at Bhaganpur-Berhuan roadside under Marshaghai PS in Kendrapara district of Odisha along with murder and attack against RTI activists across the state.

 Sir,

We the following signatories belonging to Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan ( OSAA) hereby  bring  to your  kind  notice  the   case of gruesome murder of Ranjan Kumar Das, a renowed anti-corruption RTI Activist  and threats of  murder already issued to many RTI users and activists  in Odisha and earnestly seek  your  intervention and  urgent action in the matter.

1. As you know, RTI Act which came into full force w.e.f. 12^th October 2005 is a unique law with a mandate   to bring transparency and accountability in the administration of the country with an objective inter alia to contain corruption in public sphere.

2. Since inception,   many RTI  Activists   working  under the banner  of  OSAA  have been  carrying  forward    a sustained campaign  to enable  the  common people to access and inspect information through the  use of RTI Act and Rules made there under. As a result, they have been able to expose a bulk of cases involving corruption and fraud by vested interests in nexus with pliable public servants.  Following the constitution of Lokayukta in Odisha, many of them are filing complaints before Lokayukta for seeking inquiry into the cases of fraud and corruption exposed by them through RTI exercises. .

3.  Being panicked by the exposure of and complaint against cases of fraud and corruption so carried out by the RTI activists, and more so by the order for enuiry into such cases issued by Lokayukta, Odisha, the vested interest groups, such as dishonest contractors, business houses and corporate honchos have forged a grand alliance with  corrupt officials and police personnel to attack and exterminate physically the anti-corruption whistle-blowers so as to systematically stamp out any trace of RTI Activism that still survives in the state. 

4.  For your kind information, within last couple of years, apart from the murder of some RTI activists including that of Ranjan Kumar Das, many  RTI Activists across the state have been subject to physical attacks like  merciless beating, forceful confinement and  permanent disablement

5.  On 10^th December 2019, Sri Abhimanyu Panda, RTI Activist of Kandhamal district who has exposed several cases of  corruption in PDS and construction of roads under State RD Department and filed  a number of appeals/complaints in the office of Information Commission  was brutally murdered at gunpoint near  his residence in the early morning. After a lot of protest was raised at local and state level, the police arrested two Supari Killers along with other two  suspects involved in his murder. But the conspirators  who masterminded this murder are still at large in connivance of the local police, who have deliberately refrained from arresting  them.

6. The latest incident of such murder took place on 31^st January 2020, when  Ranjan   Kumar Das, a leading RTI Activist based in Kendrapara district was cold-bloodedly killed in the dead of night and thrown at roadside near his village, under Marshaghai Police Station in Kendrapara district. Though more than 10 days has passed, the police have not yet arrested or interrogated any suspect, let alone conduction of  any inquiry worth the name. We strongly suspect that the Police under the invisible pressure of the  local political lobby and vested interest groups are trying to tinker with the investigation including the post-mortem report so as to hush up the whole truth about a well-conspired murder of Ranjan Kumar Das.

7. Sir, the increasing spree of  threats to and murder of RTI Activists has frightened many RTI Activists and their parents to refrain from using  RTI Act to fight against corruption. As a result  the RTI Activists are  seen under pressure not to pursue  their  RTI Applications, First Appeals and Complaints/SA cases already lodged around  the cases of corruption and fraud  in the interest of the  common people.  

8.  Needless to say, under the RTI Act, Information Commission is the  ultimate custodian and arbiter of the law and as such empowered to ensure  its effective implementation of it at national level or at state level, as the case may be.  At the other end, RTI Activists are  working   relentlessly to awaken the people  about  their rights and obligations to  bring transparency and accounability in the machinery of administration . as required under a democratic polity. Thus, both Information Commission and RTI Activists supplement and complement each other for effective implementation of RTI Act.

9.  In view of the above, it should be an abiding concern of the  Information Commission to see that the life and dignity  of the RTI users and RTI activists be  protected from the offensives mounted by vested interests of all sorts from within and outside the Government 

10.                   We, therefore  request the esteemed Commission  to intervene  in this matter by way of exercising its civil court powers to institute an enquiry  under Section 18 (3) of  RTI Act to lay bare the machinations of the vested interests that lay behind the recent wave of mortal attacks and threats carried out by the hired goons. Besides, the Commission using its powers under Section 25(5) of RTI Act is also earnestly requested to recommend to the Director General of Police to take stern action against the anti-RTI miscreants on one hand and to provide security and protection to RTI activists on the other.

11.                  Last but not the least, we  also fervently request  the Commission to  take up  all  cases of Complaints/ Second Appeals filed  by the recently  murdered Abhimanyu Panda of Kandhamal  and Ranjan Kumar Das of Kendrapara  and adjudicate   the said   cases  on merit and  direct the  concerned Public Authorities   to put  the concerned information on  their  respective websites and also  to impose  penalty  on the concerned PIOs under  Section 20  of the RTI Act.

Looking forward to your well thought response in this matter,

Yours  sincerely

Pradip Pradhan

State Convener

Complaint to Lokayukta, Odisha for inquiry into life threats of Anti-Corruption Crusaders

To

Hon’ble Justice Shri Ajit Singh,                                                                                                  Date- 11.2.20

Chairman, Lokayukta, Odisha

Bhubaneswar

Sub- Request for a high-level inquiry into repeated life killing threats  culminating in a well-designed, cold-blooded and barbarous murder of a firebrand anti-corruption whistle blower and a relentless RTI Activist, Ranjan Kumar Das (an SC person)  in Kendrapara District of Odisha and connected matters- regarding

Esteemed Sir,

We, the RTI Activists do earnestly urge your immediate intervention for undertaking an impartial investigation and stern action against the conspirators and perpetrators of recent wave of life killing threats and attack on RTI Activists in the state of Odisha including the latest incident of cold-blooded,  brutal murder of Ranjan Kumar Das, who being an SC person himself, acted as a fire brand whistle-blower against multifarious incidents of corruption in public sphere through his  avid use of RTI Act as a tool for exposure and disclosure of such acts of corruption. 

1.  As you might know,  following the implementation   of RTI Act 2005,   several  social activists   have been engaged in grounding of this historic legislation at grassroots level, by way of undertaking umpteen exercises that include conducting   training and orientation programmes on RTI related provisions and procedures, the sole objective being  how to infuse transparency  and as well expose   corruption and irregularities  in implementation of  various Govt. schemes and programmes meant for the poor, downtrodden and marginalized sections of society. Having been terribly disturbed and panicked  by such constant  exposure of acts of corruption and illegalites,  various    vested interest  groups  including companies, contractors and  corrupt  officials continued to hatch  conspiracy after conspiracy  to somehow deter and  detract the RTI activists and RTI users  by way of resorting to several foul means, such as by  offering bribe  for withdrawal of RTI Applications, threatening  them  of dire consequence, physically attacking  them,  instituting false cases and putting them behind bars, making  them permanently disabled and if every such tact failed,  lastly by finishing them off by engineering cold-blooded  murder. Within last 15 years , Odisha  has witnessed gruesome  murder  of 4 RTI Activists  and more  than 40 RTI Activists  having been threatened, attacked, injured and permanently disabled.

2.  Over the years  the RTI Activists as soon as they heard of such tragic incidents of attack and murder, had filed complaint/ petitions  before  different public authorities such as office of Chief Minister Odisha, DG Police and State Vigilance.  But, unfortunately enough, their complaints were  neither heard nor  acted upon and were rather kept pending for years  on end on the facile excuse of ‘under-consideration’ or ‘under inquiry’. In view of such a grim reality then prevailing,   the  constitution of  Lokayukta  in the  state kindled a good deal  of hope  among  the anti-corruption activists that  their  complaints would thenceforth be properly  inquired  into and culprits brought to book, all in a proactive time-bound manner.

3. The  prompt  order/ action taken  by the Lokayukta, Odisha  following  complaints  of corruption filed  by RTI Activists  and the  common members of public e  has  created a havoc among  vested  interest groups  and corrupt officials,  who   in order to escape the penal consequences, do  adopt  various devious tricks against the complainants so as  to silence  them, such as  by issuing threats  of attack, intimidation,  offer of bribe, engaging of go-betweens for influencing the complainant to withdraw the case  and lastly by mounting murderous  attack on them. We  present  herewith  three cases of  virulent attacks  on  RTI Activists and anti-corruption complainats  for a kind perusal by Lokaykta, Odisha.

4.   Sri Srikant Pakal , an RTI Activist  had  filed  a complaint alleging corruption  and misappropriation of  funds  by  Sri Bishnupada Sethy , IAS, the then MIC, Odisha State  Cooperative Bank  and   presently  working  as Secretary, Dept. of Energy, Govt. of Odisha.  The Lokayukta  has taken cognizance  of the complaint  case  registering it  as LY No. 110/19 and issued  notice  to Sri Bishnupada Sethy. While  Sri Sethy  has filed time petition  for  submission of his reply   on one  hand, he has  engaged   middleman to  influence    the complainant to withdraw  the  case under  the threats of attack  . On 20.1.20, Sri Srikant Pakal  had  filed a complaint to Deputy Commissioner  of Police, Cuttack  seeking  an inquiry  into life-killing threats by  miscreants engaged  by Bishnupada Sethy ( Annexture-1).  On 10.2.2020, Sri Pakal  had  submitted  a petition  to  the  Director General  of Police, Odisha seeking  an inquiry into such threats .( annexture-2). Though  one month  has passed on, the DCP, Cuttack has not  conducted any inquiry into it.

5.  Similarly, Sri Raj Kishor Nayak, RTI Activist of Mayurbhanj  who had filed  multiple  complaints (LY No. 560/19 and LY No. 635/19 )   against  BDO,  Kaptipada, and local Sarapanch  seeking  inquiry into  alleged corruption  and irregularities  in allotment  of houses  under PMAY/ Biju Pucca  Gruha Yojana  have  received mortal  threats from vested  interest groups. Being unnerved by the notice issued by Lokayukta, Odisha dated  15.12.19., Sarapanch Rajashree Marandi and her Husband Ajaya Gaon of Badakhaladi Panchayat, Nalimadhab Patra, Vice-Chairman of Kaptipada Panchayat Samiti along with 22 Contractors gheraoed, and locked him in his house and abused him with slang language threatening  him to withdraw the case. He somehow escaped from the clutches of the said gang  by tendering a promise not to pursue the case.   On 27.12.19., he however sent  by post a petition  to Superintendent  of Police, Mayurhanj with a copy  marked  to the Director General of  Police, Odisha  seeking protection and security  for  his  family ( Annexture-3). Though ore than a  month has passed on, no inquiry nor any action has been conducted so far.

6.  Sri Simanchal Jena, RTI Activist  of  Talasara village  under Beguniapada  Block  of Ganjam district  had  filed   a number  of complaint  cases  in respect of  corruption in  implementation of  development programmes,  after  obtaining information under RTI Act. After a notice was  issued by Lokayukta, Odisha, the vested interest groups and contractors have conspired to kill him. On 25.11.19., a miscreant named Tulu Bhuyan  tried  to run  a tractor over his body. However he narrowly escaped.  On 26.11.19, he was also abused with slang language by the contractors in the village.  Though he filed an FIR, the police have not conducted any inquiry nor taken any action against the culprits, and are rather trying to cover up the whole episode. (Annexture-4).

7. As already mentioned above, Ranjan Kumar  Das, a renowned RTI Activist  who had  filed  two  consecutive complaints on 27.1.20   in the Lokayukta, Odisha   seeking  inquiry  into some some cases of mega  corruption  has been  cold-bloodedly murdered  by  vested interest groups  in Kendrapara  district in the night of 31^st January 2020.  Earlier Ranjan himself had filed an FIR before Patkura PS alleging mortal threat and casteist slur against him. Due to complete inaction of the police in respect of the said FIR, Ranjan was ultimately murdered.  Then an FIR  was  filed  on 1.2.20 before IIC  Marshaghai Police Station by his brother-in-law Balaram Das , but the IIC of the said PS while rgistering the FIR in the presence of SP Kendrapara did cunningly leave out the crucial fact that Ranjan Das was an SC person and his case deserved to be treated under both SCST (PoA) Act and IPC. The SP and IIC of Marshaghai PS  have neither conducted  any  inquiry, nor nabbed the culprits nor disbursed the compensation/relief to the parents of Ranjan till date. ( Annexture-5).

8. Besides, many more anti-corruption Activists operating across the state who have been filling complaint cases of corruption before Lokayukta have been threatened with dire consequences to their life. The life of all of them is in danger. Due to series of attacks continuing by the vested interest groups, many Activists have been frightened in pursuing   their cases in Lokayukta. Such a bad state of affairs staring the anti-corruption activists of the state in face needs to be instantly and appropriately addressed to by your esteemed authority. 

9.  Under the circumstances, we  request  your  esteemed  authority  to  issue  the  following directions  to the concerned agencies of the Govt.  in order to mete out  justice to the RTI Activists whose life, liberty and activities are in danger-

A. Direction to DG Police, Odisha  to   constitute  a high level committee  to inquire  into  the acts of criminal threats, intimidation and murder of anti-corruption activists and mete out exemplary  action against  the  vested interest groups/ miscreants and corrupt officials in nexus wth them, involved in such dastardly acts;

B. Direct the Director of Inquiry of Lokayukta  to  conduct  an  independent inquiry into  the above acts of violence and murder against the RTI activists.

C. Direct Secretary, Dept. of  Home, Govt. of Odisha  to issue  circular  to all SPs and Police Stations  to immediately register the complaint cases  filed  by  RTI Activists  and  conduct time-bound  inquiry and action against the culprits.

D.  We  also  urge Lokayukta  to  issue  direction  to DG Police  to  provide  security  to  RTI Activists  and anti-corruption whistle-blowers  and their family members.

E. The complaint  cases  filed  by Ranjan Das in Lokayukta  on 27.1.20 should  be  properly investigated  and action to be taken accordingly.

E. In the context of the latest murder of anti-coruption RTI activist Ranjan Kumar Das (an SC person), we urge Lokayukta to direct the DG Odisha Police and Secy Home Odisha to enquire into the said case as per SCST (PoA) Act 1989 for the purpose of action against the culprits and compensation/relief to the parents of deceased Ranjan.

    

Yours  sincerely

Pradip Pradhan                                                                                                          Sanjukta Panigrahi

Plot  No-D-27, Maitree  Vihar                                                                                     Ziauddin Ahamad           

Post-Rail Vihar, Bhubaneswar -751023                                                   Manoj Kumar Panda

Memo submitted to DGP, Odisha on Murder of Ranjan Das, RTI Activist

Memorandum submitted  to DG, Police  for  Constitution of High-level inquiry  into  Cold-blooded Murder of Ranjan Kumar Das, RTI Activist  of Kendrapara  District

Dear friends

To day on 10.2.20, a  five-member Delegation   consisting of Smt. Sanjukta Panigrahi, Mahi Nikepar, Srikant Pakal, Kalandi Mallik, Anjan Rath of  Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan (OSAA)  submitted  memorandum to Director General of Police, Odisha seeking  (a) high-level inquiry into murder  of Ranjan Kumar Das, RTI Activist, (b) Immediate suspension of the IIC of Patura Police Station who failed to provide security and protection to Ranjan Kumar Das despite the registration of an FIR dated 11.12.2019 lodged by Ranjan himself more than a month back, (c)  Immediate suspension of the IIC of Marshaghai Police  Station who deliberately shielded the SC status of Ranjan Kumar Das in the FIR registered on 01.02.2020 despite the knowledge of both IIC and SP Kendrapara to that effect, (d) Immediate direction to IIC, Mahakalapada Police station  to register case  filed on 31.1.20 by Ranjan Das  and take  action against  the culprits, (e ) all three FIRs   should be treated jointly for the purpose of investigation, trial, action against the culprits and relief/compensation to the parents of Ranjan Kumar Das, (f)  immediate relief/compensation to the parents of deceased Ranjan Kumar Das under Orssa Victim Compensation Scheme / Relief Rules made under SCST (PoA) Act, (g) immediate arrest of alleged culprits and exemplary punishment of them; 

During  discussion with Additional  Director General of  Police,  the  delegation appraised about  ominous silence  of the  police without  conducting  any investigation into  murder  of Ranjan Das  even after  passage of ten days. It is suspected that the Police under the pressure of the ruling political lobby and vested interest groups are trying to tinker with the investigation including the post-mortem report so as to hush up the truth about a well-conspired murder of Ranjan Kumar Das, a fire-brand RTI activist and anti-corruption whistle-blower, who being himself an SC person was also a prominent Dalit rights activist. The Team urged to ADG of police   to order for   high-level enquiry   to unravel the mysterious facts and circumstances leading to the murder of Ranjan Kumar Das along with immediate action to nab and interrogate the culprits.

Press Release  by

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date-10.2.20