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Bhubaneswar Court Rejects Challenge Against Patnaik, Pandian
A complainant accused Naveen Patnaik and VK Pandian of improperly using money connected to helicopter trips across Odisha.
He said the trips were paid for by private groups rather than the government.
He also complained that police did not register his FIR as he expected.
A lower court dismissed his complaint.
He then asked a higher court to review that decision.
The Khurda Sessions Court refused to overturn the lower court’s order.
The judge said the complaint did not provide enough supporting material for the alleged offences.
The judge also said the complainant had not followed required legal procedures and did not have the necessary standing to file it.
The Khurda Sessions Court dismissed a criminal revision petition against Naveen Patnaik and VK Pandian.
The petition challenged the SDJM Court’s March 25, 2026 dismissal of a complaint against them.
Complainant Sudhir Charan Mohanty alleged their district helicopter trips involved misappropriated or misused public funds.
Mohanty cited RTI information and claimed the trips were financed by private and unaccounted sources.
The Sessions Court found no illegality in the lower court’s order and said the complaint lacked legal and procedural support.
- Who
- Advocate and social worker Sudhir Charan Mohanty filed the petition against former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik and VK Pandian.
- What
- The Khurda Sessions Court dismissed a criminal revision petition challenging the rejection of Mohanty’s complaint.
- Where
- The case was heard by the Sessions Court of Khurda in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
- When
- The Sessions Court issued its decision on Wednesday; the challenged SDJM order was dated March 25, 2026.
- Why
- The judge found no illegality in the lower court’s order and said the complaint lacked supporting material, required procedural compliance, and locus standi.
Complainant’s Allegations
Court’s Findings
Alleged helicopter-trip funding
Complainant’s Allegations
Mohanty alleged that Patnaik and Pandian travelled by helicopter across Odisha without government sanction or payment from the public exchequer, with expenses allegedly covered by private and unaccounted sources.
Court’s Findings
The court did not find sufficient supporting material to establish offences under the penal sections cited in the complaint and upheld the lower court’s dismissal.
Police and legal procedure
Complainant’s Allegations
Mohanty claimed that police failed to register his FIR despite submissions to the Capital Police Station and the DCP’s office.
Court’s Findings
The Sessions Court said the complainant had not complied with mandatory requirements under Section 173(4) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and lacked locus standi under Section 33.
Key facts
- Court
- Sessions Court of Khurda, Bhubaneswar
- Complainant
- Sudhir Charan Mohanty
- Respondents
- Naveen Patnaik and VK Pandian
- Lower-court order
- The SDJM Court, Bhubaneswar, dismissed the complaint on March 25, 2026.
- Allegation
- Mohanty alleged that helicopter trips across Odisha involved misappropriation or misuse of public funds.
- FIR claim
- Mohanty said he first lodged an FIR at Capital Police Station on August 14, 2024, but alleged it was not registered until August 19, 2024.
- Court reasoning
- The Sessions Court cited insufficient supporting material, noncompliance with Sections 173(4) and 33 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and lack of locus standi.
Quotes
Biranchi Narayan Mohanty
Sessions Judge of Khurda who delivered the court’s ruling
“the complaint/petitioner neither made out any case under any of the penal sections referred to in the complaint petition with supported materials”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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