Bhubaneswar: A day after Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) mayor Ananta Narayan Jena was dragged into a sex tape controversy, commissionerate police on Friday sent notice to Itish Pradhan, state chief of National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and Pradip Pandi, head of a news website in connection with the case.
Police said, the notice was based on an FIR filed by Jena against Pradhan and Pandi. While the three and half minute video clip was prima facie circulated in social media through Pandi’s website, on Thursday, Pradhan had accused that Jena was one among the three shown in the video in a compromising position. The student leader had also alleged that the mayor is involved in the death of Ashutosh Mohanty (Rishi), an engineering student.
“Ananta Narayan Jena has lodged an FIR in the capital police station. In the FIR he has brought allegation against a website and a second person. We have registered a case in this regard and started investigation,” said police commissioner YB Khurania.
Police have given Pradhan and Pandi a week’s time to appear before it.
Meanwhile, terming the allegation to tarnish his image Jena has filed a defamation suit against Pradhan and Pandi.
“I have filed a damage suit to the tune of Rs one crore against Itish Pradhan and Pradeep Pandi. I have too urged the court to issue an order to stop the telecast of the sex clip” Jena told media persons. Today, demanding immediate arrest of Pandi and Pradhan, a large number of Jena’s supporters had blocked the Jaydev Vihar-Power House Chhak main road for over two hours. Later police intervened to bring the situation under control.
On the other hand, in a twist to Rishi’s death episode, his mother has mentioned Jena as a family friend. However she has demanded that a through probe should be made into the death of his son.
“I can’t believe this (on Jena’s link with death of Rishi)....He (Jena) is the friend of my brother and is associated with our family. In this case the hostel mates of Rishi may know more than us”, said Pritirani, mother of Rishi.
Official sources said the police will soon send the tape for forensic test.
In May, Rishi, a fourth year engineering student, had reportedly died in sleep. Police said he had partied with his friends at a private mess. While others woke up in the morning, Ashutosh didn't wake up till 10 am. He was then taken to the Capital Hospital, where he was declared brought dead. His friends told that substance abuse led to his death, police said.