Accused Of ‘Unleashing Dogs’ On Woman Journalist, Ex-Odisha Minister Raghunandan Das Moves HC For Anticipatory Bail

Bhubaneswar: BJD leader and former Minister Raghunandan Das, who is accused of unleashing his dogs on an on-duty woman journalist on June 25, has reportedly moved the Orissa High Court for anticipatory bail.

According to sources, the former Information and Public Relations Minister has moved the High Court apparently apprehending arrest after police launched an investigation that he had let his dogs loose on a woman journalist in Bhubaneswar.

Teams from the Capital Police station had reportedly visited the residence of the BJD leader in Bhubaneswar twice as part of the probe.

As per sources, the former Baikuda-Erasama MLA has been booked under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 294 (utterance of obscene words), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC on the basis of a complaint lodged by the journalist.

Chinmayee Sahoo, a journalist with a TV channel, has accused Das of releasing his dogs on her when she entered his official residence with permission for capturing some visuals of demolition of unauthorised construction in neighbouring premise, belonging to BJD organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das.

In a video clip, the former MLA was also seen justifying his action. “Why should I not release the dog?” he asked and added that the journalist along with a cameraperson had entered his quarters without permission.

Later speaking to media, Das had said the incident took place when they were busy packing after receiving a notice to vacate the quarters by July 4. “They entered the premises by pushing away the security guard and went to the extreme end of the quarters, crossing my bedrooms and that of my daughter, to capture some visuals. They also misbehaved with my cook, who questioned them after being informed by the security guard. I then told them to leave the premises since they had not taken my permission,” he had said.

The former minister had also told the media he had not unleashed his pet dogs but threatened to do so as the journalist had entered his premises without permission. “I will file a counter FIR in the matter,” he said.