Odisha cops file rape case against BJD legislator on high court’s order

The woman last year filed a complaint with Jagatsinghpur police alleging sexual harassment, betrayal and cheating after the lawmaker didn’t turn up at the sub-registrar’s office to start the process to get married

Published on: Feb 3, 2023, 22:54:24 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha police on Friday registered a case of rape against ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) legislator from Tirtol, Bijay Shankar Das, on a complaint filed by a woman with who he was in relationship. The first information report (FIR) was registered following the Orissa high court’s orders which accepted the woman’s request.

According to the woman, she was in a relationship with the MLA Bijay Shankar Das (Instagram/b_jay_das07)

Jagatsinghpur sub divisional police officer (SDPO) Ramesh Chandra Singh said the case was registered under sections 376 (rape), 313 (causing miscarriage without woman’s consent) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of Indian Penal Code.

The woman last year filed a complaint with Jagatsinghpur police station alleging sexual harassment, betrayal and cheating after the lawmaker didn’t turn up at the office of the Balasore sub-registrar to start the process to get married under the Special Marriage Act. She said he had promised to.

As the police did not register her case, she sought the intervention of the high court alleging inaction of erstwhile Jagatsinghpur superintendent of police in initiating any action.

On her petition, justice SK Panigrahi ordered her to approach the Jagatsinghpur police station with a fresh complaint and a copy of the court order. At the same time, the court directed the police to register a case if any cognizable case is made out.

The woman has earlier accused the legislator of operating sex rackets to raise money for his elections, charges that the legislator has vehemently denied.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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