Cuttack: The manager of Central Bank at Peer Bazaar under Jagatpur police limits in Cuttack district lodged a complaint with Jagatpur police station accusing Salepur MLA Prakash Behera and his 10 aides of ransacking the bank properties and attacking him.
Acting on the complaint of Pradeep Kumar Sahoo, the manager, police have launched an investigation registering a case under section 341, 323, 294, 353, 332, 506 and 34 of IPC. MLA Prakash Behera also registered a counter allegation with the police against the bank manager.
When contacted, Jagatpur police station IIC Biranchi Narayan Pati said, they had received the MLA’s late FIR. What steps would be taken depends on the finding of the investigation, he added.
According to the compliant, MLA Prakash Behera and some of his aides had come to the bank. They wished to meet the manager for personal work in connection with loan related problems.
After making them wait for some time, manager Pradeep Kumar Sahoo called them in. In his chamber, the manager was allegedly busy with his office work, not paying any attention to Behera’s allegations. This angered Behera and his followers. Subsequently a verbal duel ensued between Behera and Sahoo. Behera and his aides went out of the bank office after manhandling Sahoo.
They attacked Sahoo for a second time when he came out of the bank. Their anger did not subsided even after attacking the manager outside the bank. They entered into the bank and caused damage to the bank’s property including some glass panes, the manager mentioned in his complaint.
According to Behera’s complaint, he had received allegations against the bank manager that he was pressuring the farmers of Mutaripha and eight other panchayats under his constituency to repay their loans. In this regard he had sent one of his followers with a letter seeking an appointment Wednesday 10 am. But the manager had turned him away saying he would only meet the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister.
Behera along with some of his followers was returning from his constituency in the afternoon. On his way back, he stopped near the bank on seeing some people gathered at the bank creating a ruckus.
He went to the spot, pacified the agitated mob. When he asked the manager about the reason why the people had gathered at the bank, he scolded him saying it was none of his business.
Behera has mentioned in his complaint that seeing the tension was running high, he informed the police as well.
“It is unfortunate to register a counter allegation against me,” Behera said.
IIC Biranchi Narayan Pati said that investigation was on Taking both complain into consideration. “Steps will be taken against whoever is found guilty in our investigation,” he added.
PNN
