Police record statement of BJD MLA’s rumoured girlfriend Somalika Dash

Jagatsinghpur Police has recorded the statement of Somalika Dash, the rumoured girlfriend of Biju Janta Dal (BJD) leader and Tirtol MLA Bijay Shankar Das, in connection with an alleged betrayal case. A case was registered against the MLA on Friday following the intervention of the Orissa High Court.

Somalika (29) had moved the Orissa HC after Jagatsinghpur police did not register a case against Bijay Shankar on the basis of complaint lodged by her on May 13, 2022. She accused the IIC of Jagatsinghpur and the district superintendent of police of inaction.

Taking up the petition for hearing, the court had directed Jagatsinghpur IIC to register a case if any cognizable case is made out. Following the direction of the court, a case was registered on Friday and Somalika's statement was recorded.

Speaking to the reporters, Somalika said, “My statement has finally been recorded by the police. They have handed me a copy of the FIR as well. I will cooperate with them in the investigation.”

“It took the police over nine months to register an FIR. He belongs to the ruling party, things can change very fast,” she apprehended.

Somalika’s lawyer, Snigdharani Biswal said, “The statement has been recorded on the basis of the first complaint filed in last May. She (Somalika) was not recording her statement because FIR was not registered by the police.”

Somalika had accused the lawmaker of cheating, harassment and not turning up for marriage at the Registrar of Marriage office at Jagatsinghpur. She had leveled allegations of rape against him and maintained that she has proof to corroborate her allegations.

She had also alleged that Bijay Shankar was operating sex rackets to raise money for his election expenses.

However, the young lawmaker termed the rape allegations as baseless and said that it was a conspiracy against him.

(Reported By Sashank Sekhar Panda, OTV)