Popular comedian Tatwa Prakash Satpathy alias Papu Pom Pom on Tuesday got a clean chit in the sensational casting couch case involving a minor girl.
A special POCSO court has acquitted the Ollywood actor and his aide Gittu in connection with the case.
Notably, the victim, a minor girl had lodged an FIR against the actor on June 25, 2016. The complainant had accused the actor of making sexual advances towards her on the pretext of providing her a break in Ollywood.
The actor was charged under various sections 341, 323 and 354 of IPC and also under Sections 8 and 12 of (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) POCSO Act.
Police later arrested him from Puri on June 30, 2016 following a complaint lodged at Mahila police station by a Bhubaneswar-based NGO and state-wide outcry.
The actor while speaking to media following the court judgment alleged that despite being innocent, he was arrested in connection with the case due to police pressure.
Papu claimed that he had to spend 43 days inside for no reason. "My family was served 7-day notice period after the FIR but I was arrested just a day after. When I sought an answer from the DG Police, he said that they were under pressure," said the actor.
On the verdict, Papu accepted that the casting couch case created confusion among a section of his fans but now they will accept him after the judgment.
On his future course of action, the actor said, "Once I get the judgment papers, I am planning to move the court against social media false hype, allegations by the girl and the one who has filed FIR against me to defame me."
"The case however never made any difference to my career. In fact I am in a better position now than what I was six years ago," he said.