IAS officer accuses BJP MLA of issuing death threats during flood duty

Bhubaneswar: A BJP legislator in Odisha has landed in controversy after an IAS officer accused him of abusing and threatening to kill him during an argument over flood relief distribution in Ganjam district. The officer lodged a police complaint against Asika MLA Saroj Padhi on Thursday, The Indian Express reported.

Samir Kumar Jena, a 2022-batch IAS officer serving as chief development officer-cum-executive officer of the Ganjam Zilla Parishad, alleged that Padhi barged into his chamber on Tuesday and confronted him over the distribution of relief supplies. Jena was overseeing relief and restoration operations in the Asika area following the floods.

According to the complaint, Jena informed the MLA that the materials had been arranged by Minister Bibhuti Jena and distributed as instructed. However, Padhi allegedly continued shouting, used abusive language, threatened to kill the officer and demanded that he leave the area. Jena also claimed that the confrontation was recorded by CCTV cameras in the chamber and left him deeply distressed.

Ganjam Superintendent of Police Harisha BC said the complaint was being examined, while police were yet to confirm its formal registration. Jena did not respond to requests for comment.

Padhi, however, maintained that the disagreement had been settled through discussions with the officer, describing it as a misunderstanding during hectic flood-relief operations.

Meanwhile, Asika Municipality Executive Officer Rajesh Kumar Mohapatra, who was present during the incident, has been transferred to the state Housing and Urban Development Department.

The latest controversy comes months after allegations that Padhi's supporters misbehaved with a woman sarpanch during an Asika panchayat samiti meeting in September.