After Rape Charge, Viral Video With Another Woman Adds To Odisha MLA Bijay Shankar Das’ Trouble

Jagatsinghpur: Trouble mounted for BJD MLA from Tirtol Bijay Shankar Das, earlier booked for rape and forceful termination of pregnancy, after a video showing him with another woman went viral on social media on Saturday.

Reacting to the video, his alleged girlfriend Somalika Dash said the husband of the woman seen in the video sent it to her mobile phone. “He has been in a relationship with several women. I had advised him to refrain from such activities when objectionable photos of the two had gone viral. He had instead threatened me saying that he belongs to the ruling party. I have now decided not to marry him,” she said.

The legislator, however, told the media that he was not aware of the video.

Also Read: Raped Multiples Times, Forced To Terminate Pregnancy; Know The Charges Against Odisha MLA

Following an Orissa High Court directive, Jagatsinghpur police registered a fresh case against the legislator on Friday under Sections 376 (punishment for rape), 313 (causing miscarriage without woman’s consent), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code on basis of a complaint filed by Somalika.

Notably, she had lodged a complaint against him with police on June 18 last year, alleging sexual harassment, betrayal and cheating. A case was then registered against the lawmaker under Sections 154 (1) of CrPC and 420, 185 A, 506 B, 294, 509, 341, 120 B and 34 of IPC and 3, 4, 5, 6 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. She, however, moved the HC since the police did not book the MLA under Section 376 of IPC and failed to arrest him.

In her fresh complaint, Somalika alleged that  Bijaya Shankar developed physical intimacy with her on the promise of marriage. He even forced her to undergo abortion twice, she alleged.