Odisha law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Friday accused the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government of deliberately suppressing the inquiry commission report into the killing of seer Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, saying the BJP government had initiated an investigation to trace the missing document.
Harichandan alleged that the report was “intentionally” misplaced during the previous government’s tenure and expressed confidence that it would be recovered and those responsible for its disappearance brought to book.
“One thing is very clear about what has happened: who is suspected of being part of the conspiracy and who caused the incident. The commission’s report was ‘intentionally’ misplaced during the previous government’s tenure. The BJP government has seriously initiated the investigation process,” the minister told reporters.
“We have full hope that the commission’s report will be found and those who are guilty will be caught and brought to light,” he said.
The controversy gained momentum after Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also raised suspicions of a conspiracy behind the killing of Swami Laxmanananda, who was assassinated along with four others at his Jalespeta ashram in Kandhamal on August 23, 2008.
The Opposition BJD, however, questioned the government’s handling of the issue and the timing of the investigation.
BJD leader Prasanna Acharya said it was the State government’s responsibility to trace the report and investigate its disappearance.
“The government itself is conducting the investigation. It didn’t even realise for two years after coming to power that the file was lost. Suddenly, after two years, they woke up and realised that the file was lost,” Acharya said.
He also pointed to what he described as conflicting statements from ministers over whether the report could be retrieved electronically.
“One minister said it can be retrieved; even if the file is lost, whatever report was in it can be retrieved from the computer. Another minister said no, it cannot be retrieved. Therefore, the public is now confused,” he said.
The controversy has put the spotlight on the missing commission report, the circumstances surrounding its disappearance and the findings of the government’s ongoing inquiry.