Bhubaneswar: The House Committee of Odisha Assembly will table its report in connection with the controversy surrounding journalist Abhijit Iyer-Mitra on the first day of winter session of the State Assembly starting tomorrow.
After a meeting, Chairman of the House Committee and Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra today stated that the panel, which was formed as per directive of the Odisha Assembly Speaker will submit its report to the House.
Earlier this month, Iyer-Mitra deposed before the House Committee of the Odisha Assembly for the third time and submitted an affidavit over his alleged remarks against legislators.
Iyer-Mitra had submitted the affidavit in presence of the House Committee Chairman Narasingha Mishra and member Sanjay Das Burma at the Odisha Assembly building.
On October 23, Iyer-Mitra had tendered an unconditional apology for his derogatory remarks on the Konark Sun Temple and comments on MLAs.
Odisha Assembly speaker Pradip Amat, on September 20, had constituted a panel to probe the journalist’s alleged derogatory remarks against the State and its lawmakers.
The Commissionerate Police had arrested the journalist in connection with a case filed at Sahid Nagar Police Station under sections 294, 295A, 153A, 500, 506 of IPC and section 67 of the Information Technology Act over his derogatory remarks against Odisha and Konark Sun Temple.
Currently, Iyer-Mitra is lodged at the Jharpada jail in Bhubaneswar in connection with the case.
Meanwhile, the arrest of Iyer-Mitra has also made headline in the foreign media. The BBC News portal has published an article on the matter and stated that despite seeking apology, the bail plea of the journalist and defence expert has been rejected twice and serious charges have been framed against him. If proven guilty, he could face jail term of five years, the news portal stated.