Mockery in supply of Information by Sashi Prava Bindhani, OIC

Crime Branch Inquiry into Ghangapatna land Scam suppressed by State Govt. from 2014 to 2019

Information about Ghangapatna Land Scam was also denied by  both office of Tahasildar, Bhubaneswar  and  Odisha  Information  Commission

Mrs.  Sashi Prava Bindhani , Information  Commissioner  is party to suppression of  vital  information about  Scam   by  the PIO, office  of Tahasildar, Bhubaneswar

·      Since  last  five years, Crime  Branch  has kept pending  of  inquiry  into  Ghangapatna  Land Scam.

·      Information  about  Ghangapatna  Land Scam  supplied by the PIO, office  of tahasildar  was  found false, incomplete  and misleading.

·      Mrs. Sashi  Bindhani  was  found  party  to  suppression  of  information . she  abruptly  closed  the case  on false  ground.

·      The  PIO, office  of tahasildar  dared  to ignore  order  of the  Commission  and  did  not  appear  the case for  one  and half year.

·      The ADM, Khurda  simply  ignored  order  of  Commission  for  five times  to  conduct inquiry.

·      Mrs.  Bindhani  did  not  take  any  action against  them

·      Big  Conspiracy  of Mrs.  Bindhani  and  corrupt  bureaucracy  was  exposed

·      This  is glaring example  how  RTI  is  derailed  in Odisha  despite  our  hard  campaign  to  enforce  effective implementation of  sun-shining  law.

1.      Introduction

In July  2014,  Mass Media reported   about politically-influential  people, MLAs  and Ministers namely  Sri Kalpataru   Das,  Sri Pranab Balanantaray  and Sri K.B.Singhdeo  illegally  acquiring  leased land  of tribals  through  fraudulent means in Ghangapatna area of  Bhubaneswar.  These  are  waste land leased  plots  given  to tribal  and poor  people by State  Government   free of cost. After  media  expose  of this  land scam, the  opposition political parties  and Civil Society  Organisations  immediately  demanded CBI  inquiry  into this scam  as BJD leaders  are  involved  in it. However, to  pacify  the  rising  public anger  against  the  Govt.  Chief Minister  declared  that  Crime  Branch  would  conduct  inquiry  into it   in the  month  of August, 2014.

2.   Issues  relating  to  Crime Branch  Inquiry  and  Filling  of RTI

On 9.9.2014., Crime Branch lodged   complaint   (Case No. 22 dated 9.9.2014) , registered under section 120(B)/420/467/468/471 IPC  and  started  inquiry  into  it. After  few  days , it  was reported  in media  that  Crime Branch  has returned back  all land  to  Govt. khata.  To understand the kind of allegations and details of  land returned back to Govt. fold,  two RTI Applications dt. 19.9.14  and 31.12.14 was filed  to the PIO, office  of  Revenue and Disaster Management, Govt. of  Odisha  seeking  the  following  information.

A.   Details of allegation made for illegally occupying the Ghangapatna land under Khurda district.

B.   Name of the persons or institutions or organizations who have illegally occupied land and quantity of land occupied by them.

C.   Copy of documents which contain about the land (quantity of land) returned back to Govt.  and name of the  institutions / persons  from whose  land was returned back with quantity  of land following which  the  Govt. has  declared .

D.   Information about laws which were followed by the Government to get the land returned back to  Govt.

 The  PIO  forwarded  both the RTI Applications  to the PIO, office  of Collector, Khurda  which  was  eventually  forwarded  to the PIO, office of  Tahasildar , Bhubaneswar  to supply  the  information.  On denial of information  by the PIO, office  of Tahasildar, Bhubaneswar ,  Second Appeal  cases were  filed  in the  office  of Odisha  Information Commission which were  registered  as  SA Case  No. 284/15 and SA  Case  No. 1655/2015.

3. Hearing  of  SA petitions  by  Sashi Prava Bindhani, SIC  and  Mockery  of  Odisha  bureaucracy  with  tacit  support  of  Commission -  Very  Interesting  story

After  two years, the  hearing  of  both  the  Second Appeal  petitions  SA  No. 284/15  and SA No. 1655/2015  was  started  by  Mrs. Sashi Prava Bindhani, Information Commissioner from 9.2.17. The  Commission  heard  the  case  twelve  times (  within period of  one  and half year )  on 9.2.2017, 14.7.2017, 16.8.2017, 8.9.2017, 3.10.2017,  29.1.2018, 9.2.2018, 16.4.2018, 15.5.18,  26.7.18, 6.9.2018 ( date of disposal). The reason  behind  fixing  so many  dates  for  hearing and disposal  is   that  though  the  Commission repeatedly  issued  notice  to the PIO, office  of Tahasildar , Bhubaneswar,  he /she  neither  responded the  Commission nor  filed  any  submission  in respect  of  compliance  to RTI Application nor  cared  to the  Commission to appear in the hearing.  Then, Mrs.  Bindhani  issued  notice  five times  to  ADM, Khurda  under  Odisha  Information Commission ( appeal procedure) Rules, 2006  to conduct an inquiry  into it  and sought  information from the  PIO, Tahasildar.  Astonishingly,   ADM did not respond the Commission.   Mrs.  Bindhani  could  not  do anything, though  the  Commission has  ample  power  to take  legal  action against  them.  It  is  also very  interesting  to note here  that the  PIO, office  of Collector, Khurda submitted  to the  Commission  that though office  of Collector  issued direction 13  times  within period of  one year  from 5.5.2017  to 5.4.2018   to  Tahasildar, Bhubaneswar  to  provide  information along with  copy  marked  to  Commission,   the office  of Tahasildar  simply continued to   ignore  the  order  of the  Collector, Khurda. But   blatant  and naked  violation of  order of  the  Collector, Khurda  by Tahasildar,  the  Collector  did  not  take  any  action against  him   but  continued  to send  reminder  time  and again  to  provide  information .  

The  question may  come  to mind of readers  how a mere  Tahasildar  dared  to  ignore  order  of the  Commission 10  times  and order  of the  Collector , Khurdha  13  times.  The answer  is very  simply. He  was  directed  from top  not  to supply  any  information and  continue  to ignore  order  of anybody. Nothing  would happen  to him.  As  I am the appellant , I was closely  monitoring  the  attitude  of Sashi Prava Bindhani innocently  and   frequently  attending  the case  being  pretty  ware  about  character of  Sashi  Prava Bindhani  that  if she  gets   opportunity  finding absence  of the appellant, she  would  dispose  the  case  taking  plea  that  “ the  appellant  is satisfied and  no need  to pursue  the  case  further.”  It  happened   in this  case  which will be  presented  later on.

4.      Supply  of  information  by PIO, office  of Tahasildar, Bhubaneswar

After  one  year  of long silence not  even producing  any  response  to  repeated  notice  the  Commission, PIO , office  of Tahasildar, Bhubaneswar  supplied  the  information  on 8.2.18  and 9.5.18 which is  presented  below.

a. The  original  case  records  have  been seized  by the economic Office  wing of the  Odisha  crime Branch in connection with  EOW  Case  No. 22  dated 9.9.2014. The PIO provided   complete seizure list prepared on 10.9.14 and 3.1.15. This  list  does not  contain  any  information about  name  of the lease  holder against  whom cancellation of  Land lease  case  was filed.

b.The  PIO  supplied  copy  of the Khata No. 614 relating  to Mouza : Ghangapatna  indicating details of  land  reverted back  to the  Government Khata .

c. The  PIO  mentioned  that Since  the  matter  is  under  investigation  by the EOW, Odisha  Crime  Branch,  difficulties have been experienced  to provide  other  information sought for.  It  means investigation of Crime  branch  is  going  on   since  5 years. In the  name  of  investigation,  Crime  Branch  has  suppressed the  scam  in order  to protect  land grabbers.

5.       Counter-submission  by the appellant  

On 26.7.15., during  hearing  of the  case , the  Commission was  appraised   that  the  PIO  had  supplied  false, misleading  and incomplete  information. The  Commission  directed   the  appellant ( Pradip Pradhan)  to  submit  discrepancy  chart  point-wise.  Discrepancy  chart  was  prepared  immediately  and  presented  to the PIO  on the  spot.  The  details of  chart  is  as follows. The  Commission directed  the PIO  to supply  the  complete  and correct  information.

Sl. No.	Information sought  for	Information supplied  by PIO  or  not
i.	Details of allegation made for illegally occupying the Ghangapatna land under Khurda district.	Not supplied
ii.	Name of the persons or institutions or organizations who have illegally occupied land and quantity of land occupied by them.	Not  supplied
iii.	Copy of documents which contain about the land (quantity of land) returned back to Govt.  and name of the  institutions / persons  from whose  land was returned back with quantity  of land following which  the  Govt. has  declared .	Misleading
iv.	Information about laws which were followed by the Government to get the land returned back to  Govt.	Supplied   by the  PIO

6.      Fallacious  order  of  Commission –  a Simple email  changed  Couse  of  hearing leading  to  abrupt disposal - Very Interesting phenomena

On 6.9.18,  Mrs. Sashi  Prava  Bindhani  heard  the  case . I was absent  and the  PIO  was  also absent  in the  hearing. In  the  order  of that  day, the  Commission has  mentioned   that the  PIO  has sent a letter  through e-mail  which  was taken on record. But  the  Commission has not  mentioned  any thing  content  of the  said email  which  is related  to  my  case. Even  the  Commission has  not  supplied   this  copy  of email   in response  to RTI Application dt. 22.1.19 filed   by  me  seeking entire  file  and documents  of this case. It  is clearly apprehended that this  email  influenced  Mrs. Bindhani  to close  the  case.  Mrs. Bindhani  started thinking how to close the case.   The  Commission hatched  conspiracy  putting allegation on appellant  ( me )  that “  though the  appellant  was  present  on 26.7.18,  he has neither  submitted  any  written memorandum  nor  any  discrepancy  chart as per  direction of the  Commission on 26.7.18” .   In  fact ,  On 26.7.18.,  I produced  discrepancy chart  to the PIO  and  copy  to the  Commission   copy  of which  has been  supplied  to me  by office  of  Information Commission  to response of  my  RTI query  dated  22.1.19.  Though  the  Commission  disposed  the case  on 6.9.2018, but  copy of the  order  was sent  to me  after five  months  on 25.1.19.

7.       Present Status  of  Ghangapatna Land  Scam

a.  In the  name  of  Inquiry , Chief  Minister  ensured  suppression of  investigation into Ghangapatna  Land Scam  through Crime Branch.  Five  years  passed,  Crime Branch  held up inquiry  to  protect  land grabbers  of  BJD.

b.The  office  of  Tahasildar , Bhubaneswar  refused  to divulge  information on the  pretext  that  the  original  documents  has been seized.  This is false statement.   Tahasildar might have called   for all information from Crime Branch and supplied to me.

c.  The  Information Commission  should  have ordered  for  inquiry whether  the  Statement  of PIO  about  seizure  of  orginal  document by Crime Branch   is   fact  or  false.  The  Commission should have  also ordered  Tahasildar  to bring back  all  documents  from Crime Branch  and supply  the same.  As  Mrs. Bindhani   was instructed  to  obstruct  supply  of  information,   she  closed  the  case  without  ensuring it.

d.Though  the PIO, office  of Tahasildar, Bhubaneswar   continued  to simply  ignore the  order  of the  Commission for  one and  half year  causing  a  lot of  harassment  to me, the  Commission  did  not  impose  penalty  on him  as required  under  section 20 (1)  of the  RTI Act.  Mrs. Bindhani’s tacit  support  to  erring PIOs  has encouraged  them  to deny  information  repeatedly  to  Information-seekers.

e.Information about Ghangapatna land scam  still  remains  mystery.

8.      Conclusion

After  long  fight  of  five years  to get  piece  of  information, I was  denied  information   by the   PIO   which was  facilitated  by Mrs. Sashi Prava  Bindhani,  Information Commissioner  which   has  been  constituted  to protect RTI  Act.  The  PIO  who  did not   care  to respond  Commission for  one year   was  made  scot-free  without  any penalty  being imposed  on him, though  he deserves  to be  penalized   under  section  20(1)  of the  RTI  Act.  We  , the  tax payers  are  paying  Rs. 2.5  lakh  per  month  to Sashi Prava Bindhani  to   provide  justice  to appellant .  This  is the  justice  she  provided  to me  after  5  years  of  long finght  to get  information. Sashi  Prava Bindhani  is  not  the  Commission  to  protect  RTI  but  to   protect  corrupt  bureaucrats.

Pradip  Pradhan

Appellant  and RTI  Activist

M-9937843482

Date- 26.3.19

Fact-finding Report on “Arrest and Custodial torture of Tapan Padhi, RTI Activist

Report of  Fact-finding Team on “Arrest and Custodial torture of  Tapan Padhi, Social Activist  in Panikoili Police station under Jajpur district

Introduction:

Perturbed having heard   the news  from media  and fellow friends  on 19^th March, 2019 about arrest  of  Tapan Padhi, Human Rights  Defender of the state  by Panikoili police   for his alleged  Facebook posting against some police officials, a  six-member fact-finding team of Civil Society  Group  had visited  Panikoili police station  and Jajpur Jail on 21^st March 2019  to ascertain  the fact  along with   the following objectives.

Objectives :

a.    To find out reason behind the arrest of  Mr. Tapan Padhi.

b.    To collect information furnished in FIR and other documents from the police.

c.     To gather  information  from Sri Tapan Padhi  about  his arrest, behaviour  of the police , treatment  of jail officials.    

d.    To examine  whether police have followed the guidelines set by various Court and Commission while arresting a person for any reason.

Date of Fact-finding Team : 21^st March 2019

Members of Fact-finding Team :

1.    Pradip Pradhan, State Convener, Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan, Odisha

2.    Sri Suryamani Mishra, Journalist

3.    Bhjaman Biswal,  National Human Rights  Defender

4.    Sri Akhand, Human Rights Activist

5.    Mahe Nikhat, Women rights Activist

6.    Dillip Samantaray, RTI activist

7.    Local volunteers accompanied the team

Whom the team met and discuss:

a. Ajay Kumar Jena, IIC, Panikoili Police Station  

b. Akshay Kumar Das, Aditional SP, Jajpur

c. Ravi Satapathy, DSP, Jajpur

d. Govind Sur, Jailor, Jajpur Road,  Sub Jail, Ragadi

e. Tapan Padhi, victim

f. Telephonic talk with local Advocate

Details about Tapan Padhi, Human Rights Defender

Tapan Padhi alias Mohapatra, a permanent resident of Tihidi, Bhardak District, Odisha and is presently residing at OTM Colony of Chaudwar, Cuttack District to look after aging parents. He is a RTI activist and a human rights defender. He is founding President of Mission Justice, a rights-based organisation working in the state. He is trainer in various social fields. He  has  been associated  with various visits of fact-finding team in the matter of human rights violation cases in the state. He specifically works on Police atrocities, Civil and political rights and  rights of farmers. He has drafted a farmers rights bill and put  pressure on Government for passage of the bill in the assembly.  It was scheduled   to celebrate   annual program  of Mission Justice on 23^rd March, 2019. Before that he has been arrested on 17^th March, 2019.

Details of Cases :

Two FIRs have been lodged  against  unknown persons  in Panikoili Police Station. In first case (No/ 41/2019), the Complainant is One Subash Dhal, who claimed himself  a reporter of a vernacular news paper for Panikoili area. In his complaint he alleged that some people were  posting derogatory and defamatory remarks against Journalists in Japur. He referred to the  face book account ‘Kranti Jajpur’. He has not mentioned any name in the FIR.” This case is registered under section 292,294, 506,507,34 IPC and 66(A), 66(C),67 and 67(A) of Information Technology Act,2000.

Second FIR is filled by Police itself. One Kailsah Chandra Bhoi(55), the S.I. of Police, Panikoili Police station is the Complainant and a case(No/ 42/2019) is registered against unknown persons. He alleged that in the name of facebook account ‘Kranti Jajpur’, ‘Kranti Sukinda’ and ‘Kranti Korei’, some persons are posting obscene, vulgar and sexually explicit comments against Charan Singh Meena, Superintendent of Police, Jajpur and other police officials of the district. It hampers the reputation of Odisha Police. This case is registered under same sections i.e. 292,294,506,507,34 IPC and 66(A), 66(C),67 and 67(A) of Information Technology Act,2000.

Discussion with IIC, Panikoili PS:

We met Ajay Kumar Jena, Inspector In-charge in Panikoili Police station. During interaction, Sri Jena appraised the  team   that  mainly three persons were  involved in this crime. They are Rabindra Das, Pratap Jena, Tapan Padhi and others. Two have  arrested and Rabindra is absconding. We have arrested Rabindra earlier in case no. 172/2018. Tapan Padhi was involved in opening of fake facebook Ids and designing different posts. As per direction of SP, we registered a case and arrested  him.  Looking  at   hard copies  of various  postings   shown by Ajaya Jena, IIC claimed  to be posted  by Sri tapan padhi , the  team members  questioned  how  Tapan  Padhi was involved , when  there  is no name  of  Tapan Padhi  in posting of  Kranti  Jajpur  and Kranti Sukinda. Sri Jena responded  that “  We  enquired through IT experts  and found his involvement in posting. We  have arrested  him legally  and  you  could approach court against us, if you foresee any illegality in this case.”  

The IIC  also said that in the case of arrest of Rabindra Das, Tapan Padhi had  come to the police station claiming himself to be  human rights activist and asked about that case and also questioned about the cleanness of the Police station. The  IIC  had responded  him properly. He  also  said  that  Sri Padhi  is highly arrogant  and made many posting with filthy languages against  Biju Patnaik, Prime Minister , so and so . What we have done  in this case, we have done  at  the direction  of SP, Jajpur.

Collection of FIR :

We have collected two FIR from ICC, Panikoili PS.

Discussion with Additional SP and DSP, Jajpur:

 We met Akshay Kumar Das, Additional SP and Rabi Satapathy, DSP, Jajpur in SP office. They  expressed  their ignorance  about the case which is not  a fact.   We requested  them to look into the matter. ASP wrote down the case number and assured us to see the matter. We  also  requested  them  not  to  arrest   the Activists  in these  cases  rather  issue  warning them  not  to write with  filthy  language. If you  continue  to  arrest  the people  writing  in  social media  using  filthy language,   you  will  not  find  space  in jail  to keep  them.

Discussion with Govind Chandra Sur, Jailor, Japur Road Sub Jail :

We met jailor and said about whether you have made arrangement for health check-up when Tapan Padhi entered into  the Jail. He said, there is system of health pass. But there is no doctor, only one pharmacist. On that day, when Padhi came to jail, other 20 inmates also came to Jail. So, health check-up for all inmates was not possible on that day. Phase wise health check up are being done.

Discussion with Tapan Padhi, Victim

1.    He was unaware of any complaint filed against him in Panikoili Police station. No information or notice was given to him.

2.    On 17^th March, 2019 at about 11 PM, when he was preparing to take rest, the police captured him in front of his house at OTM colony, Chowadar and dragged him to his house and scolded him heavily.

3.    They have no search warrant. But they searched everywhere in the room including almirah, trunk, bags and they seized two mobiles and one laptop and hard disk.

4.    They are six to seven police men and all are in dress. They dragged him to the police van and started abusing him in the van.

5.    When he requested the police to  give scope for informing his relatives, lawyers   and friends about his arrest, they scolded him and said, “first go to the Police station, we will treat you and then you will inform anybody you want.”

6.    He thought police may take him to the Choudwar Police station. But they took long drive and took him to Panikoili police station in Jajpur.

7.    In the night they grilled him and treated him as a dreaded criminal in the police station.

8.    On 18^th March, 2019, they dragged into the IIC chamber to torture him as there are no CCTV there. Four police men including IIC Ajay Kumar Jena tortured him severely. They used plastic pipes to hit him in the back and hips. He was beaten mercilessly and brutally by the police. Tapan padhi show these spot. Both of the hips are reddish black. The torture is serious. They also lay down in the ground and hit to the hills.

9.    After physical assault they tried to hurt him mentally also. Ajaya Jena said that if you continue your work against police, after you release , we would book you in Arms Act and   kill you   in encounter. Your family members will be kidnapped, raped and killed.

10.Police will write a letter in official letter head to the appointing authority of your daughter. Police letter is most powerful. She will lose  her job.

Medical Examination :

Police took him to local hospital. A nurse asked about the health condition. Two escorting constables was trying to avoid torture. They say no need of showing hips and other parts where torture signs are clear.  But Tapan insisted to show the affected parts and in a private room, He showed these parts and he hopes it would be recorded by the hospital staff.

Court Forwarding :

On 19^th March, 2109, police forwarded to him to the Local Magistrate. But there is no scope to reveal about the torture. The magistrate asked him about his name and his father’s name. That’s all.  As Tapan is in trauma, so he even could not say to his lawyer about the torture  he faced in the police station.

Treatment in Judicial Custody :

 Tapan came to jail on 19^th March, 2019. But till 21^st March, 2019, there was no health check up in the jail due to lack of staff. Only one pharmacist  was there to do the health check up of new inmates phase wise and issue health pass. But health pass is mandatory before entering into judicial custody. Food quality is very bad and Mr. Padhi have already inform to the jailor. Jailer assured the fact finding team to look into the matter.

Findings :

1.    Police registered the case under Section 292, 294, 506, 507, 34 of IPC and 66A, 66C, 67, 67A of Information Technology Act, 2000 in the Panikoili P.S.Case No. 41 and 42 of 2019 and the maximum punishment can be awarded is below Seven years in all the above sections of IPC and IT Act, 2000 mentioned above. Hence Odisha Police is supposed to send notice Under Section 41-A of CrPC before taking any further legal step. In this case police has not served any notice on the said accused person before arresting him  in the midnight of 17^th March 2019.

2.    Section 80(1) of Information Technology Act, 2000 says that: “ 80. Power of police officer and other officers to enter, search, etc.- (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), any police officer, not below the rank of a Deputy Superintendent of Police, or any other officer of the Central Government or a State Government authorised by the Central Government in this behalf may enter any public place and search and arrest without warrant any person found therein who is reasonably suspected of having committed or of committing or of being about to commit any offence under this Act. Explanation.-For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression "public place" includes any public conveyance, any hotel, any shop or any other place intended for use by, or accessible to the public. But in this case Police arrested Tapan Padhi at 11 PM from his residence. Residence of a citizen is not a Public Place hence police has violated the law for entering the house of the accused like a trespasser and for searching/ seizing any item/ arrest the accused without any court warrant.

3.       Odisha Police has booked him under 66A of Information Technology Act, 2000. The 66A of this act was being Struck down by Honourable Supreme Court of India mentioning it as unconstitutional as it violates the Article 19(1)(a) and not saved under Article 19(2) of Indian Constitution (WPC No. 167 of 2012 and M.A. No. 3220 of 2013).  The Supreme Court in 2015 struck down Section 66(A) of the Information Technology Act, calling it "vague" and "unconstitutional". The Honourable Judges said "We are going to take strict action," the Supreme Court said, and warned that the officials who ordered the arrests under Section 66(A) will be "sent to jail". The top court bench of Justices Rohinton Nariman and Vineet Saran said it is "shocking if true" that people were arrested under Section 66(A) that was declared "unconstitutional". But in this case it is violated by Panikoili Police.

4.       He is not involved in these face book ids as said by the police. Some people have shared his post in that groups. But police alleged that he have done these fake ids. Which is not a fact.

5.       He was beaten mercilessly in police custody. It is illegal for the police to slap, beat, threaten, intimidate or torture any person who is being held in custody. It is responsibility of the police for the wellbeing and safety of an arrested person. But here police did third degree treatment accused. This is a gross violation of Article 14, 19(1)(a), 21 of the Constitution of India and Article 03 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Demands :

1.       High level inquiry must be done by Human Rights Protection Cell of Odisha police and stringent action should be taken again erring police officials.

2.       Tapan Padhi must be referred to other hospitals for better treatment outside  jail , as there is no doctor  in jail.

3.       Odisha Human Rights Commission may send a team to Jail to inquiry into the matter and take necessary actions.

4.       His family members must be provided with security as ICC threatened the accused to finish his family members.

5.       Police should quash allegation against him as he is not involved in these crime.

Report prepared  by

Sri Akhand

Human Rights  Activist

M-7008816891

Date-22.3.19