Jay Panda holds a private pilot licence for aircraft and helicopters. (File)
Highlights
- Jay Panda accused of violating rules by flying into high security zone
- He had quit Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal earlier this year
- He denied the allegation, said he flew chopper at a different time
A helicopter flown by former parliamentarian Baijayant Jay Panda was seized by the police in Odisha on the weekend, on the charge that he had violated rules by flying over a high security zone.
Jay Panda, who quit Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal in May after he was suspended for "anti-party activities", accused the state government of trying to "handicap" his movement, in a series of tweets.
The police in Puri have seized the hangar of IMFA, the company founded by Jay Panda's father.
Jay Panda was accused of flying his chopper over an "eco-sensitive zone" in Chilika Lake around 1.30 pm on Saturday.
"Odisha police have sealed the hangar which had three helicopters. Their allegation that I violated a no-fly zone is baseless," the politician told NDTV.
Forest officials reportedly complained that a low-flying white helicopter was hovering "dangerously low" over a restricted area of the Chilika lagoon, causing panic in the popular tourist spot.
The flight was harmful for the atmosphere, the lake water and its fish and dolphin population, alleged the Assistant Conservator of Forests in a complaint.
Jay Panda, denying the allegation, tweeted that he had flown a helicopter at a totally different time. Airport records reportedly show that the chopper landed in Bhubaneswar at 1.26 pm.
The black box data from the chopper will be investigated to establish its flight details and whether it had landed in Chilika or had flown low over sanctuary, Puri police chief Sarthak Sarangi told reporters.
Jay Panda had a bitter exit from the BJD after a falling out with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The rift had widened over the past year, when the articulate and affable politician was removed as spokesperson of the BJD parliamentary party after he called for introspection after the party's setback in the local body polls last year.
Jay Panda holds a private pilot licence to fly aircraft and helicopters. In his Twitter bio, he writes he has clocked over 1,500 hours of flight time in a helicopter.