Bhubaneswar, July 23 (UDN): The investigation into the alleged disappearance of files from the Odisha Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) gathered pace on Wednesday after former 5T Chairman V.K. Pandian was formally summoned by the police.
Earlier in the day, Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh met Director General of Police (DGP) Y.B. Khurania to review the progress of the high-profile investigation. The meeting, which lasted around 20–25 minutes, focused on the next course of action in the case.
Soon after the meeting, senior officers, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Bhubaneswar, and the Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of Capital Police Station, held further discussions at the Commissioner’s office regarding the investigation and the notices issued to former officials.
Pandian Asked to Appear on July 25
Capital Police Station has served a notice to V.K. Pandian, directing him to appear before the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Zone-I, at 11:00 am on July 25 for questioning in connection with the missing files case.
The police are expected to record his statement as part of the ongoing effort to trace the missing government records and determine the circumstances surrounding their disappearance.
Notices to Former Officials
The investigating team had earlier issued notices to former Chief Secretary Rajesh Verma and former IT Secretary Manoj Mishra.
While Manoj Mishra appeared before the police and his statement has been recorded, Rajesh Verma did not appear within the stipulated time.
Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh said a fresh notice would be issued to Verma, warning that legal action could follow if he fails to cooperate with the investigation.
Investigation Focused on Missing Files
Speaking to reporters, the Police Commissioner said the primary objective of the investigation is to recover the missing CMO files and establish whether they were misplaced or deliberately removed.
“Our mandate is to locate the missing files. We are examining whether the records were misplaced or intentionally made to disappear. Given the sensitive nature of the case, the investigation is being carried out with due seriousness,” Singh said.
The disappearance of files from the Chief Minister’s Office has triggered political attention in Odisha, with investigators continuing to question former officials as they piece together the sequence of events.