Stating that the CBI chief was neither a close friend of Patnaik nor his relative, he said people wonder whether any secret understanding was discussed at the meeting as part of attempts by the UPA government at the centre and BJD regime in Odisha to suppress corruption cases.
“While Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha has openly opposed any CBI probe into mining scam despite Shah panel's recommendation, the centre does not appear to be keen to get the matter enquired by the premier agency,” Pujari said.
The circumstances under which the meeting took place raises suspicion about possibility of a secret deal between the UPA government and BJD government in Odisha, he alleged.
Pujari said that the suspicion grew thicker particularly after Patnaik stayed away from a recent meeting of 11 non-UPA and non-NDA political parties in their bid to form a new front ahead of the coming polls even though he was among those who had mooted such a front.
