Bhubaneswar: Following the Khordha District and Sessions Court’s dismissal of a case over alleged irregularities in helicopter use involving former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and former 5T Chairman VK Pandian, the Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has alleged a political conspiracy behind the case.

The court dismissed the case on Wednesday, citing legal and evidentiary shortcomings, and observed there was no misuse of government expenditure in the matter.

The Khordha district court also upheld an earlier decision of the Bhubaneswar SDJM Court, which had rejected the allegations against Patnaik and Pandian.

The case was based on allegations that around ₹500 crore from the state exchequer had been spent on helicopter use.

Reacting to the court's decision, the BJD described the case as baseless and alleged the accusations against Patnaik and Pandian were politically motivated.

The Opposition party also referred to earlier allegations concerning the alleged theft of valuables from the Ratna Bhandar of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri. The BJD claimed the allegations were disproved after the state government conducted an inventory and stated the jewellery and ornaments were safe.

The BJD described the allegations against its leaders as “false and malicious” and said the court's decision vindicated its stand.