SAMBALPUR: Even as BJP leader LK Advani is taking on Congress accusing it of corrupt practices, allegations of fake caste certificate against former BJP Sambalpur municipal chairman Girish Patel are the doing rounds here. A senior citizen, Arabinda Sahu had alleged that Patel held the post of Sambalpur municipal chairman reserved for OBCs from 2004 to 2009 by submitting fake caste certificate. He claimed that Patel was a ‘Hindu Patel’ and not ‘Chasa’ as stated in the certificate. Patel was allegedly issued the caste certificate by a revenue inspector after BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra endorsed his status as OBC. When Patel moved court on the issue, Sahu wrote to the then Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan on April 24, 2009. Within a week, the writ petitions filed by Patel in the Orissa High Court were dismissed on the advice of the CJI. The Sambalpur Sadar Tehsildar was directed to conduct an inquiry into the matter and report compliance.Subsequently, Sambalpur Sadar Tehsildar Ajay Tiwari sought clarification from the District Magistrate of Rajkot, Gujarat, over the matter and found that Patel did not belong to OBC category. Meanwhile, Sahu had written to District Collector Mrinalini Darswal to initiate criminal proceedings under Section 118 of IPC against Patel. Stating that the matter is sub judice, Patel refused to comment.
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