New Delhi: Abhijit Iyer Mitra, who landed in a controversy for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Konark Temple and Odisha was granted interim protection till October 5 today.
The direction came as Abhijit Iyer Mitra’s lawyer moved the Supreme Court after he failed to move the Orissa High Court in view of the ongoing strike by the Bar Associaition, sources said.
Earlier, Saket Court in New Delhi had granted interim bail to Iyer till September 28 after he was arrested by Odisha Police on September 20.
Iyer was criticised for a tweet which he had tweeted on November 16, 2017 in which he wrote: “Odisha was discovered by Bengali explorers, who called it “OriShala!!! And it was named Orissa”.
He also wrote that Jagannath Temple was built by the Gangas, who were disgraced Pallava Tamil retainers. “…no such thing as Orissa, just the wild southern provinces of undivided Bengal,” Iyer had tweeted.
Such remarks triggered widespread resentment in Odisha. Later, Odisha speaker had constituted a House Committee led by leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra to probe the matter.