Bhubaneswar: The city police on Wednesday served a notice to V K Pandian, a former IAS officer-turned-BJD politician and close aide of ex‑chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who virtually ran the govt, was called for questioning in connection with the theft of two sensitive inquiry reports from the chief minister’s office (CMO) during the 2024 regime change.The missing files pertain to the 2008 assassination of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and the 2016 SUM hospital fire. A case was registered at Capital police station on June 10 against “unknown suspects and accused.”Pandian, a 2000‑batch former IAS officer who joined BJD on Nov 27, 2023 and quit politics on June 9, 2024 after the party’s electoral debacle, served as Naveen’s private secretary for 12 years since 2011 and wielded tremendous influence within the party and govt.According to the notice issued by Capital police station, Pandian has been directed to appear before the investigating officer at 11 am on July 25. “It appears that you may be acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case. Therefore, you are required to appear at the office of ACP (Zone‑I) on July 25 at 11 am for examination and to extend your full cooperation in the investigation. You are requested to bring with you any documents, records, electronic devices, or other materials relevant to the investigation that may be in your possession or control,” the notice stated.Earlier, two former CMO bureaucrats, ex‑IT secretary Manoj Mishra and Naveen’s former principal secretary Rajesh Verma, were also served notices. Mishra deposed on July 18, while Verma, noticed for July 22, has not yet appeared.The notice to Pandian has stirred political ripples and is being seen as the most significant development in the probe so far. Revenue minister Suresh Pujari said the probe has been intensified. “Some people, featured in the police list, are unwell. They will be quizzed when they recover. Whoever is involved will not be spared,” Pujari asserted.