TV
A serious allegation surfaced on Wednesday against Madhusmita Behera, the Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of Badachana Police Station in Jajpur district. The officer is accused of illegally detaining a businessman from Cuttack district for three days and allegedly extorting lakhs of rupees for his release.
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The victim, Prafulla Kumar Sahu, a resident of Nischintakoili in Cuttack, runs a medicine store in Katikata Bazaar. On June 24, the Badachana IIC reportedly arrived at his shop, asking about a doctor named A.K Jayasingh. When informed that the doctor was not present, Prafulla was allegedly taken to the Badachana Police Station without any formal case or complaint against him.
The businessman’s son and a relative had visited the police station to inquire about his detention, during which two local journalists, Subhasis Basantray and Asit Kumar Samal, who allegedly acted as intermediaries. They reportedly told the family that a major case had been filed and that Rs 5 lakh was demanded by the officer for his release.
Allegedly, Prafulla’s son Pradipta had arranged Rs 2.5 lakh by selling some gold ornaments and borrowing money. He gave the money to the IIC, only then was his father released.
Following an online complaint to the Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell and Odisha DGP, the issue came to light. Pradeep has now lodged a formal complaint with Jajpur SP Yashpratap Shrimal, naming the police officer and both journalists.
The SP has confirmed that an SDPO-level inquiry is underway.
“Madhusmita Behera (Badachana Police Station IIC) came to our shop and enquired about Dr. A.K. Jayasingh. The doctor was not present there at that time. She asked me to give her his mobile number, and I gave her the number. She then tried to contact him, but the phone showed ‘switched off’. She later insisted on asking my father to come to the medicine shop. After my father reached the shop, he was picked up by the cop,” the victim businessman’s son said to mediapersons.
As of now, neither the accused police officer nor the two journalists have responded to the allegations.
