Case Against Odisha MLA Bijay Das: Police Grill ‘Girlfriend’ Somalika Das For 6 Hrs

Jagatsinghpur: Two days after registering a fresh case against the legislator BJD legislator from Tirtol in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district, Bijay Shankar Das, police grilled his alleged girlfriend Somalika Das on Monday.

Speaking to the media on the day, Jagatsinghpur SDPO Ramesh Chandra Singh said senior police officials questioned Somalika in Jagatsinghpur police station for 6 hours from 11 am to 5 pm. Additional SP Umesh Chandra Panda, IIC of Jagatsinghpur police station Subhransu Sekhar Parida, SDPO and investigating officer Babita Dalei were present during interrogation as part of investigation into the case.

Singh said they questioned Somalika on different aspects of the case and the entire proceeding was recorded on the video camera as per the official norms. Following the interrogation, Somalika was taken to district headquarters hospital at Jagatsinghpur for medical check-up, he added. However, the SDPO did not divulge the details of the interrogation.

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.

On Saturday, a video showing the Tirtol MLA with another woman went viral on social media. Das was earlier booked for rape and forceful termination of pregnancy.