A storm ensued after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released a video on Monday containing a conversation between a two-wheeler stand lessee and the Inspector-in-Charge, Dinakrushna Mishra of Cantonment Police Station in Cuttack.
The video shows Mishra threatening the lessee with arrest if his demand of Rs 40,000 for allowing the lessee to take a particular two-wheeler stand on lease during Bali Yatra, isn’t met.
The lessee who is said to be the convener of the BJP State Yuva Morcha, Smruti Ranjan Mishra has recorded the conversation where he could be heard requesting Mishra to consider taking less than Rs 40,000 citing a Rs 2 lakh loss in business during Bali Yatra.
“I have already paid you Rs 20,000 in advance. Now that I have suffered loss in business, I can’t pay you the remaining Rs 20,000. Please consider something in between,” the lessee could be heard urging Mishra in the video.
But the adamant IIC says, “Nothing doing. You will have to pay up as per our arrangement. It seems we will have to arrest you.”
The BJP bayed for blood after releasing the video in a press conference in Cuttack
Addressing the presser, BJP’s Mahila Morcha State President, Smruti Patnaik said, “As we showed you in the video, the IIC of Cantonment Police Station and his subordinate have extorted lakhs of rupees from small and big businessmen during Bali Yatra.”
“We want to ask the government, who does it work for. CM Naveen Patnaik is beating his trumpet for transparency in governance as mentioned in the much-hyped 5T model of governance. We will meet the DGP tonight and demand immediate action against both the IIC and Sub-Inspector and an inquiry to ascertain who else is involved in this extortion racket.,” she demanded.
Immediately after the video went viral, IIC Mishra was transferred to Cuttack DCP office from Cantonment Police station.
(Reported By Debasis Mohanty, OTV)