Bhubaneswar: Cabinet minister Arun Kumar Sahoo, who is in the eye of storm for allegedly sheltering some of the accused involved in the abduction and murder of a 5-year-old girl in Nayagarh district, has now been accused of intimidating a sarpanch for dragging him into the controversy.
An audio clip, featuring a purported conversation between the higher education minister and the sarpanch of Nayagarh district, went viral on social media on Wednesday. In the clip, Sahoo is purportedly heard accusing the sarpanch of instigating the girl’s parents to speak against the minister.
Ashok Sahoo and Soudamini, parents of the deceased girl, have been alleging that the Nayagarh police hushed up investigation into their daughter’s murder at the behest of the minister. They alleged that the accused were close aides of Sahoo.
On Wednesday, BJP Mahila Morcha took out a rally in Bhubaneswar and demanded Sahoo’s resignation. The opposition BJP and Congress have been pressing for Sahoo’s ouster from the cabinet and accused him of trying to influence the investigation into the alleged abduction and murder of the child.
Despite repeated attempts, the minister could not be reached for his comment. The BJD has so far not issued any statement on the controversy surrounding the minister.
It must be remembered that BJD heavyweight Pradeep Maharathy, who died last month, had to quit as agriculture minister in January 2012 following state-wide outrage for allegedly shielding some rape accused. He had to quit again in 2019 following his comment in support of the two brothers, the principal accused in the rape of the 19-year-old, who were acquitted by a trial court in Bhubaneswar.
EoM