Post News Network
Cuttack, Feb 23: The Orissa High Court Monday imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on former minister Rabi Narayan Nanda for allegedly misleading the court with false information.
According to sources, the court observed the former Jeypore MLA wasted the court’s time by submitting forged documents. The court had issued a notice to the BJD leader asking him to explain as to why criminal proceedings would not be initiated against him for submitting forged document in the court to support of his evidence.
Nanda, who had challenged the election of Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati from Jeypore assembly segment, had urged the High Court last month to defer his appearance in the court as he was unwell and that he was advised by the doctor bed rest for at least six weeks.
The BJD leader had also submitted a medical report from Jeypore additional district medical officer (ADMO) in this regard.
However, the sources said the concerned ADMO was a gynaecologist and Nanda claimed that he was diagnosed with cardiac-related ailment due to hypertension. An ADMO is authorised to advise bed rest to a patient for only two weeks.
Bahinipati’s counsel challenged Nanda’s contention in the court stating Nanda organised and attended many political meetings at his hometown Jeypore during the period he was supposed to have been under complete bed rest as advised by the doctor.
Earlier, Justice Biswanath Rath had issued the show-cause notice to the BJD leader. Justice Rath had in November 2014 imposed a fine of `5,000 on Nanda for filing an amended
petition to his original petition, that too after the deadline.