Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Feb 21: Senior Congress leader Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra Saturday launched another attack on the ruling Biu janata Dal (BJD) and alleged that state mines minister Prafulla Mallik was involved in illegal transport of minerals and had paid a fine for it in 1998.
“In 1998, a truck belonging to the mines minister (OR-06-2306) was seized by IIC Parjang, with illegal chromite ore. Later, Talcher SDJM had asked Mallik to pay a fine of Rs 95,000 with an undertaking that such an act will not be repeated,” Mohapatra said.
“Isn’t he the same person who is mines minister today?” he asked.
Mallik admitted that he had paid a fine in 1998 as the owner of the vehicle but said that he had done nothing wrong.
“I used to own a truck before joining politics. My truck was hired by a Congress leader for transport of chromite ore. As the owner is held responsible for anything that goes wrong with the vehicle as per law, I had to pay the fine of Rs 95, 000. I had no way of knowing about the illegality committed. After the incident, I sold my truck,” he said
“If it is proved that I did it knowingly, I will quit politics,” Mallik said.
