In a sensational development that has sent ripples across Odisha’s political landscape, two crucial commission reports have gone missing from the Chief Minister’s Office during the tenure of former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The current government is now gearing up to take a decisive stand on the matter.
Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan stirred the pot during a special media interaction, declaring that the government would soon announce its decision. “Whoever is found involved will be strictly punished,” he asserted, adding that the Chief Minister would take the final call.
When reporters quizzed Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday, he responded calmly: “If a formal complaint is received, an investigation will follow. We will examine the truth behind what any MLA claims.”
The remarks have ignited fierce debate, with the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) launching a sharp counter-attack. Former Law Minister and senior BJD leader Dr Arun Kumar Sahoo strongly condemned the incident in a detailed press statement. “Did the files simply vanish, or were they deliberately made to disappear?” he asked pointedly.
Dr Sahoo questioned the security of the state’s highest administrative office: “If the Chief Minister’s Office — the most secure administrative hub — is not safe, how can ordinary citizens trust the safety of their lives, property, or important state documents?”
He further challenged the government’s claim of an efficient online file system. “If the digital system is truly working, how did hard copies of sensitive commission files disappear? Every government file follows a strict trail — from Section Officer to Secretary, Chief Secretary, Minister, and finally the CM’s Office. All movements are recorded. The people of Odisha deserve the full truth,” he said.
The BJD also slammed the current regime for failing to make public several promised inquiry reports, including the high-profile case involving an ASO allegedly assaulted by the then Governor’s son. “This government talks big about transparency, but has delivered nothing so far. Is this missing-files drama a smokescreen to hide bigger truths or protect someone?” Dr Sahoo asked.
BJP leaders hit back swiftly. MLA Laxman Bag urged the opposition not to mislead the public with assumptions. “The truth will emerge soon. If they had concrete information, why didn’t they approach the police instead of playing politics? Come with evidence, not speculation,” he said.
Another BJP MLA, Prashant Jagadev, took a sharper dig: “The former Law Minister knows everything. He dug holes during his regime — now he is falling into them himself.”
The episode has raised serious questions about administrative accountability and the safety of sensitive government records, leaving political circles in the state buzzing with speculation.
