Sextortion case: Archana Nag’s aide Shradhanjali asked to appear before court in person 

In a major jolt to ‘lady blackmailer’ Archana Nag’s close associate Shradhanjali Behera, the special enforcement directorate (ED) court has asked the latter to appear before it in person.

According to sources, the court has rejected her petition seeking permission to appear before it through her counsel and directed her to depose before it on May 8.

Apprehending arrest, Shradhanjali had sought the court’s permission to appear before it through her counsel, sources informed.

Meanwhile, trouble mounted for Shradhanjali after the Enforcement Directorate named her as an accused.

“She (Shradhanjali) has been asked to appear before the court on May 8,” said Gopal Agarwal, who presented the case on behalf of the ED.

Shradhanjali’s counsel Ashok Das said, “When the special court had issued a notice to appear in person or through an advocate, I had furnished a representation under Section 205 citing that we will represent through counsel. That was rejected by the court. Thereafter, we challenged the decision in the High Court.”

“The High Court has asked the special court to rehear and reconsider the petition then. However, the court made a hearing on the matter on April 24 and reserved the verdict. Now, the plea has been rejected and the court has asked Shradhanjali to appear in person on May 8,” Das added.

Notably on April 11, the Orissa High Court had granted conditional bail to Archana Nag and her husband Jagabandhu Chand in connection with the case filed at Nayapali Police Station involving film producer, Akshaya Parija.

However, the couple is still in jail as other cases are pending against them at Khandagiri Police Station.