Odisha News / Missing CMO Files Case: VK Pandian Skips Police Appearance, Opts For Video Conference

Bhubaneswar, July 25: V.K. Pandian, former bureaucrat and once the closest aide of ex-Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has come under the scanner of the Odisha Police in connection with the disappearance of two inquiry reports from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). Summoned to appear before the Capital Police Station here on July 25, he failed to attend in person, citing his stay abroad, officials said on Saturday.

The controversy surrounding the missing files has intensified, with Pandian opting to communicate via email and offering to present his version through video conferencing instead of appearing before the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Zone-1. He had been directed to report by 11 AM with all relevant documents, records, and electronic materials linked to the case.

The Commissionerate Police had issued a clear directive that Pandian must cooperate fully with the investigation and produce any material in his possession. His long tenure as private secretary to the then Chief Minister from 2011 until October 2023, followed by his role as Chairman of the State’s 5T initiative, has made him a central figure in the probe.

Meanwhile, former bureaucrat Upendra Nath Behera has been asked to appear before investigators on July 26 by 11 AM. Similarly, former IAS officer Rajesh Verma, who had earlier failed to respond to a notice, has been directed to attend by July 30.
Also Read: VK Pandian Summoned in Missing File Probe

The investigation is expected to scrutinize the role of multiple senior officials who had access to sensitive files during their tenure. With Pandian opting for virtual participation, questions are being raised about the pace and transparency of the inquiry.

The missing files case has already triggered political debate in Odisha, with opposition parties demanding accountability and alleging lapses in record management at the highest levels of governance.