Post News Network
Cuttack, March 19: The Orissa high court Thursday allowed suspended Mayurbhanj BJD MP Ramchandra Hansdah, currently lodged at Jharpada jail in Bhubaneswar as a co-accused in the chit fund scam, to attend Parliament for a day March 23 while remaining in CBI custody.
As per the terms laid down in the order, the jail authorities will hand over Hansdah to the CBI, which will take him to New Delhi. The CBI, in turn, will hand him over to the security officer of Lok Sabha. After he attends the Parliament session, the security officer will hand Hansda back to CBI custody. The central investigating agency has been asked to produce him at the designated CBI court in Bhubaneswar by March 23 as per the court order.
Earlier, Hansdah had petitioned the high court that he be granted permission to attend Parliament to retain his membership. Law provides for declaring a seat vacant if the member fails to attend its sitting for 60 days at a stretch. Hansdah’s advocate had pleaded during the hearing on the matter that his client was prepared to attend Parliament in the custody of police or any other agency as suggested by the court.
Hansdah’s lawyer had contended that since the charge sheet had already been submitted by the CBI in the case and there was little possibility of him being granted bail, he should be allowed to attend Parliament under whatever terms and conditions the court might impose on him to retain his membership.