Patnaik briefs Sonia on Anjana Mishra rape case

The meeting brought round one of the current crisis to an end. The next phase is expected to take off after High Court judge P K Mishra, who has been appointed the inquiry officer, submits his report. However, Gandhi is believed to have asked Patnaik to be around for another meeting later in tonight. The Orissa CMis expected to leave New Delhi tomorrow by a government flight.

The morning meeting in 10, Janpath, was Patnaik’s first chance to explain his side of the story. The CM is said to have made full use of the opportunity and put forth minute details of the issue, but there is no clue as to how Gandhi received Patnaik’s explanation.

His version of how Mishra ended up on a lonely road to Cuttack and subsequently raped is reported to be very different from what she has been saying.

Patnaik’s story apparently went as follows. Mishra has a history of emotional disturbance and required treatment in the past. On the day she was raped, Mishra told her securitymen at 8 pm that she wouldn’t be needing them as she was staying at home.

She had a friend Sutanu Guru with her. At 10 pm, she changed her mind and the duo left by car on the lonely road. She was not going to see her lawyer in Cuttack, which was her version, as the lawyer was in Bhubaneswar, Patnaik is said to have explained.

Mishra had a cell phone whichshe didn’t use while being attacked. Her friend and she had dinner at a dhaba between 10.30 and 11.15 pm.Soon after, while on her way back to Bhubaneswar, she was attacked, robbed and raped. There are at least three police stations on the way back but Mishra didn’t file a first information report at any of these after being raped, Gandhi was told. Mishra had complained that she was dragged over bushes by three men, who were alleged to have been acting at Patnaik’s behest, and gang raped. The medical examination report Gandhi was given is believed to have found no scratches or injuries on either Mishra or the culprit who has been arrested. There is, however, evidence of sexual assault, the report says.

Patnaik’s defence thus rebuts everything Mishra said and presents a totally different picture of the events. Apparently, Gandhi heard everything in silence and merely asked Patnaik how long he was staying in Delhi. The Orissa CM then turned to the “political conspiracy” part of the crisis.Some dissidentministers led by Deputy Chief Minister Basant Kumar Biswal and PCC president Hemananda Biswal had met Gandhi and other CWC members saying Patnaik must be dismissed to improve the situation in Orissa as well as boost the party’s image.

Patnaik is understood to have alleged that Biswal was a corrupt man whose Finance portfolio was taken away after several complaints. “Since then, he has been targeting me”, Patnaik is reported to have said. However, Gandhi has kept her counsel. She hasn’t yet indicated which way she is going and both sides are now planning to fight to the finish. One other tidbit Gandhi was told was that the BJP-Biju Janata Dal combine was planning to field Mishra as Patnaik’s rival in the forthcoming elections. Gandhi then left for the CWC meeting without saying anything.