Chopper Owned by Former BJD MP Baijayant Panda Seized by Odisha Police for Flying Over Chilika Lake
Odisha police authorities on Monday seized a chopper owned by Former Kendrapara MP Baijayant Jay Panda over allegations that it flew over Chilika lake, a 'No flying eco-sensitive zone'.
Odisha, September 18: Odisha police authorities on Monday seized a chopper owned by former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Baijayant Jay Panda over allegations that it flew over Chilika lake, a 'No flying eco-sensitive zone'. The police have filed an FIR against the former MP for making an undeclared landing on Chilika lake.
The action was taken by Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), Chilika Development Authority (CDA), Binod Acharya at Marine police station in Arakhkuda, seeking an investigation into the matter and taking action against the pilot and passenger.
The forest officials alleged that the chopper was flying at dangerously low height and created panic among villagers and local fisherfolks. It also stated that flying at this height could cause serious impact on marine life and ecology of Chilika lake.
A team of police reached Bhubaneshwar airport on Monday evening and sealed the hangar where Baijayant Panda's chopper was kept.
Panda denied all the allegations and asserted that he had flown a helicopter on Saturday but at a totally different time. “The ATC records will show that, I flew from 8.45 AM over Rajhans-Puri-Konark & landed at Kendrapada at 10.28 am. I flew from Kendrapada at 12.50 pm, landing at Bhubaneswar 1.30 pm”, Panda tweeted.
"Today a State Govt official filed an FIR, citing media reports (saying a Seaplanelanded in Chilika at 1.30 pm) but changing description to "helicopter". FIR still says Chilika landing at 1.30 pm, when I'd landed in Bhubaneswar”, Panda added in a series of tweets.
The police have registered FIR under Sections 277, 278, 336, 431 of IPC and Section 11 of Aircraft act 1934. A team of police reached Biju Patnaik International Airport and sealed the hangar and chopper belonging to MP Jay Panda.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 18, 2018 12:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).