Monday, January 24 2005 18:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhubaneswar: A former IPS officer today (Jan 24, 2005) lodged a complaint against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, his Cabinet colleague K V Singh Deo and several officials alleging corruption in the controversial Tangarpada chromite mine deal, seeking a thorough probe into the matter.

Surendranath Swain, who retired as inspector-general of police, submitted a complaint in the Capital police station in Bhubaneswar requesting that a case be registered against the persons named in the document under section 15 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and sections 120 b, 409, 511 and 34 of IPC.

Emerging from the police station after submitting the complaint to the glare of TV cameras, Swain said that he was constrained to file the complaint after going through the directive of the Orissa High Court last November which quashed the State-owned Industrial Development Corporation of Orissa Ltd (IDCOL)'s decision to select Jindal Strips Ltd as a joint venture partner for exploring and developing the Tangarpada chromite mine.