Puri: Hours after the Marine police at Arakhakuda registered a case relating to unauthorised landing of a ‘chopper’ on Chilika, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, September 15, Puri police Monday sealed the hangar of IMFA at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar (BPIA) here.
“We suspect the chopper belongs to former MP Baijayant Panda. We will check the black box and collect further information,” informed Puri SP Sarthak Sarangi.
“Acting on the basis of a complaint by Chilika Development Authority (CDA), we have registered a case (16/18) under Sections 277, 278, 336, 431 of IPC and Section 11 of Aircraft act 1934,” he stated.
“During the course of probe we learnt that the Kolkata-based aviation agency had given flying permit to an aircraft of IMFA, September 15.” The aircraft allegedly took flight over Bharatpur in Kendrapara, Rajahans of Chilika area in Puri and its nearing areas.
“Chilika being a no-flying eco-sensitive zone, we will investigate who gave permission to the aircraft to hover around the lake,” SP added. The Puri police team has been waiting for permission of the Director General of Civil Aviation for further probe, SP said, adding that a notice would be served to the former MP in this connection.
On the other hand, rumours did round that Panda himself was seated in the aircraft along with two of his media friends. However, Panda refuted the allegations and tweeted his dissatisfaction over the issue.
In his Tweeter handle, Panda said, “Today a state government official filed an FIR, citing media reports (saying a seaplane landed 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.”
“It so happens I had flown a ‘helicopter’ on Saturday & at a totally different time! 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 @ Bhubaneswar 1.30pm,” he said in another tweet.