Bhubaneswar, Apr 4: On Monday the SC ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a probe into the irregularities and land allegedly encroached by Odisha Olympics Association (OOA) on Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. The SC also put down the sports administrator and former secretary of OOA & OCA, Ashirbad Behera from contesting elections for any post in the OOA. Based on the report submitted by the Accountant General, the SC bench comprising of Justices Dipak Mishra and PC Pant came out with the ruling. The apex court needs to ascertain whether litigious commercial complexes built by OOA are within the leasehold area and as per lease agreement. The court has termed the agreement entered into by the OOA with M/s INCON Associates illegal.
Earlier, the Odisha High Court in Nov 2015 had directed the collector of Cuttack to take the possession of properties developed on 0.705 acres of encroached land adjacent to the 20.808 acres. The land was granted on lease to the OOA in 1949 for construction of the stadium. It was allegedly said that the OOA has built a commercial complex having 23 shops and a Kalyan Mandap, known as Barabati Palace on government land close to the stadium. The Court had also directed the Cuttack district administration to take possession of the 23 shops at Kalyan Mandap. It had also directed that the Revenue department will be entitled to continue the tenancy and maintain the Kalyan Mandap and manage its affairs through Cuttack Collector.
