HC notice to ex-MP on funds

KENDRAPADA: The Orissa High Court on Friday issued notices to former Kendrapada MP Pravat Samantray as well as to the state and Union governments in connection with the alleged irregularities in utilization of Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds and directed them to submit rejoinders within three weeks. The case pertains to periods when Samantaray was the Lok Sabha member from Kendrapada.
Acting on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by secretary and vice-president of district unit of Orissa Krushak Sabha Gayadhar Dhal and Jagajiban Das repectively, Chief Justice V Gopalagowda and Justice B N Mahapatra issued the notices.
Both petitioners alleged that the former Kendrapada MP, in a clear nexus with some government officers and NGOs misappropriated over Rs 7 crore out of MPLAD fund for the periods 1993 to 1994 and 2003 to 2004 as revealed in a state government audit report.
Samantaray pleaded innocence and blamed the district administration for the wrong-doings. "My responsibility as MP was to recommend projects, not to ensure utilisation. It is the district administration's job to monitor projects and prevent irregularities," he said.