An IAS officer in Odisha’s Ganjam district has lodged a police complaint alleging that BJP MLA Saroj Kumar Padhi threatened to kill him during an argument over the distribution of flood-relief material, prompting a protest by district officials and staff demanding action.
Samir Kumar Jena, a 2022-batch IAS officer and chief development officer of Ganjam, submitted the complaint on Thursday over an incident that allegedly took place two days earlier at the office of the executive officer of Aska municipality. Jena alleged that Padhi, who represents the Aska assembly constituency, entered the office while he was present and shouted at him over the distribution of relief supplies.
According to the complaint, Jena told the MLA that relief was being distributed in accordance with instructions issued by Steel and Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena. The officer alleged that Padhi then became agitated, used unparliamentary language and threatened to kill him. Jena also wrote that the incident had left him “highly demoralised” and in “deep mental shock”.
A police officer said Jena sent the complaint through WhatsApp and that it was being treated as an e-FIR. The officer said Jena would have to appear at the police station within three days for a formal FIR to be registered. “If he turns up, police will follow due process of registering a case and investigate the matter,” the officer said. Jena’s complaint also stated that the alleged incident was captured on CCTV.
Padhi later met Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and sought to play down the confrontation. “Nobody hurled abuse at anyone. Whatever misunderstanding was there between us has been resolved through mutual discussions. Everything is sorted. There is no more complaint from any side,” the MLA said. He subsequently shared photographs of himself with Jena on social media, signalling that the dispute had been resolved.
Padhi said he, Jena and Southern Division Revenue Divisional Commissioner Vijay Amruta Kulange held a detailed review of the flood situation. The review covered relief distribution, drinking-water supply, healthcare and immediate restoration work, according to the MLA.
The disagreement has nevertheless triggered a response within the district administration. Officers and staff of the Ganjam zilla parishad staged a protest demanding action against Padhi. Biju Janata Dal spokesperson Lenin Mohanty condemned the alleged incident, saying that an elected representative should assist people during a crisis rather than engage in what he described as hooliganism.
Minister of State for Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Gokula Nanda Mallik said the chief minister was monitoring the matter. Mallik said the incident was unfortunate, that the chief minister was examining why it occurred and that the MLA had expressed regret. Jena could not be contacted for comment despite phone calls and text messages. The next formal step will depend on whether he appears at the police station and on the police investigation into the allegations.
