NEW DELHI, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Indian police have seized a helicopter of former lawmaker and registered a case against him for allegedly flying over Chilika lake, an "eco-sensitive zone" in eastern state of Odisha, officials said Tuesday.
Jay Panda, who described the case and sealing of his chopper as "brazen attempt" to stop him from moving around, wrote on Twitter that he had flown to Narada village of his constituency to condole the parents of two children who had drowned in the village pond while playing.
"Odisha Police, your illegal seizure of helicopter may slow me, but can't stop me from reaching people," Panda tweeted.
The police sealed the hanger where the helicopter was kept on Monday evening at an airport in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha.
The Police action came in wake of a complaint filed by an official of the Chilika Development Authority saying Panda's helicopter was flying over No Flying Eco Sensitive Zone of the Chilika lagoon, causing panic in the popular tourist spot. The flight, forest officials said, was harmful for the atmosphere, the lake water and its fish and dolphin population.
Panda however denies the allegations.
Panda, who holds a private pilot licence to fly aircraft and helicopters, claims he has clocked over 1,673 hours of flight time in a helicopter.
Panda was leader and lawmaker of ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the Odisha but he quit the party after falling out with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
