By Sunil Jena
Editor-in-Chief, The Politics Odia
Bhubaneswar: Odisha politics has turned increasingly volatile after allegations surfaced that a file linked to the reported ₹234 crore penalty imposed on Vedanta Resources by the Water Resources Department allegedly went missing from the office of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
The issue gained major political attention after remarks made by Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, who publicly questioned how such an important file could allegedly disappear from the Chief Minister’s Office.
The statement has triggered sharp reactions across political circles, with opposition parties demanding transparency and clarification from the state government regarding the status of the file and the handling of the Vedanta-related penalty matter.
The controversy comes at a time when the Odisha government is already facing political pressure over allegations linked to water usage, industrial regulation and corporate proximity involving Vedanta and industrialist Anil Agarwal.
Opposition leaders argue that the alleged disappearance of a high-value penalty-related file raises serious questions about administrative accountability and governance standards. Some political voices have demanded an independent inquiry into the matter.
The ruling establishment, however, has not yet issued a detailed official clarification regarding the allegations surrounding the missing file.
Political analysts note that the Vedanta issue has rapidly evolved into one of the most politically sensitive debates in Odisha, combining themes of industrial regulation, government transparency, environmental governance and political accountability.
The latest development has further intensified public and political scrutiny around the relationship between the state government and major corporate entities operating in Odisha.
As pressure builds, all eyes are now on the state administration to clarify whether the file is genuinely missing, misplaced or still under official process.
