Naidu panel interim report in a week

CUTTACK: The Justice Naidu Commission of Inquiry into the spurious drugs/liquor tragedy in Cuttack and Khurda districts in February is expected to submit its interim report within a week. The Commission, which held its third sitting here on Sunday, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the non-appointment of a Government advocate by the State for conduct of the proceedings. Though the Government has granted three months to the Commission to complete its probe and submit its report, it is yet to appoint a Government advocate. As a result, the proceedings have been delayed. The Commission, however, stated its intent to submit the interim report within a week. More than 35 people in villages under Cuttack and Khurda districts died after consuming spurious alcohol-laced medicinal formulations as substitute for liquor. Cuttack-based advocate Yogendra Mohanty had filed a petition seeking an interim report suggesting measures to curb sale of spurious alcohol-laced medicinal formulations. Appearing for Mohanty, advocates Milan Kanungo and Sidhartha Das stated that the deaths were due to consumption of medicinal formulations and not spurious liquor. There was no involvement of the Excise Department in the tragedy, they submitted. The Commission has so far received 23 affidavits and posted the next date of hearing to May 6.