Bhubaneswar: Even as outraged public hit the streets in many parts of the State on Wednesday demanding immediate arrest of casting couch accused actor Tatwa Prakash Satpathy aka Pappu Pom Pom, the Commissionerate Police has formed a team to arrest the absconding actor.
Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said a police team is investigating the matter. “The Mahila Police and ACP of Zone –I have been given charge to take the case forward,” Bhoi stated.
Asked if there is a need for a special team to arrest the actor who has been absconding since Saturday after allegations of sexual exploitation of a minor girl came to the fore, the DCP said, “It will be decided at a later stage. If the situation demands, we will certainly consider it.”
Bhoi, however, parried questions on whether the actor has fled the State to avoid police arrest. He also did not say if call details of Pappu are being tracked.
“An FIR has been registered in the matter at the Mahila Police station. Yesterday, the statements of the victim as well as her mother were recorded under Sections 161 and 164 of CrPC,” he maintained.
Meanwhile, accusing the State government of providing security to the actor, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2014 general elections from Champua constituency on a BJD ticket, women's outfits hit the streets and demanded immediate arrest of the Ollywood comedian.
Around a hundred activists of Naba Utkal Mahila Samiti in Jajpur took out a rally and burnt effigies of the actor. They accused the State government of harbouring the actor.
Besides, a similar protest rally was taken out by BJP’s women's wing near the actor’s residence in Jagannath Vihar area under Khandagiri police limits here.