The Commissonerate Police on Saturday arrested one more employee of a web channel in connection with the alleged publishing of defamatory content against ace sprinter and Olympian Dutee Chand.
The arrested accused has been identified as Smruti Ranjan Behera, a reporter of the web channel.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Umashankar Dash said that the Editor of the web channel, Sudhanshu Sekhar Rout, who was detained yesterday, has also been put under arrest.
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“One person named Smruti Ranjan Behera, who was associated with the web channel, has been arrested. He claims that he is no longer associated with the web channel. His claims are being verified,” Dash said.
The city DCP informed that a four-member special team has been formed for a thorough investigation into the case.
“The Editor of the web channel, Sudhanshu Sekhar Rout was detained last night and subsequently arrested. Articles seized from his office are being verified. A special team has been formed comprising four officers. All aspects of the case are being probed and the process of collection of evidence is on,” the senior cop added.
He further stated that the police are inquiring if the arrested duo was involved in similar act in the past. He appealed to people to come forward and lodge complaint if anyone has been harassed by the arrested duo.
Apart from the duo, RTI activist Pradip Pradhan, against whom Dutee Chand has brought allegations, is also under the radar of the police.
It is noted that 25-year-old sprinter Dutee addressed a presser on Friday alleging that the derogatory news stories published against her by the channel had an adverse impact on her performance at the recently-concluded Tokyo Olympics.
She also said that she would leave Odisha if justice is denied to her.