Khordha Court Throws Out Helicopter Misuse Case Against Naveen, Pandian
The Khordha District and Sessions Judge has dismissed a criminal revision petition alleging misuse of government helicopters by former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and ex‑5T Secretary V.K. Pandian.
The complaint, filed by Sudhir Chandra Mohanty, claimed expenses of nearly Rs 500 crore but was rejected due to lack of evidence and procedural lapses under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023.
Earlier, the Sub‑Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM), Bhubaneswar, had dismissed the original complaint in March 2026 after police reports found no cognizable case.
The District Judge upheld this decision, noting that the complainant failed to comply with Section 173(4) and lacked standing under Section 33 of BNSS 2023.
Senior advocate Ashok Kumar Parija and advocate Sitanshu Mohan Dwivedi represented Patnaik and Pandian, stressing the absence of supporting material.
With this ruling, the private complaint stands formally closed at the district court level.
