Balangir: Popular Jatra artiste Nisha Maharana on Tuesday appeared before Balangir SDJM Court here in connection with her alleged obscene dance performance in the western Odisha district.
This comes four days after the Orissa High Court granted her conditional anticipatory bail on a personal bond of Rs 20,000 each with one surety. Her counsel Ghanshyam Muduli had then stated that the trial court may impose additional conditions and will decide the detailed terms and conditions to be complied with by the dancer.
Nisha had moved HC apprehending arrest after a case was registered at Balangir Sadar police station following a complaint regarding a show at Chandanbhati in the district on January 12. The performance drew objections from sections of the audience who flung chairs and shoes onto the stage. Two organisers of the event – Surendra Nag and Radheshyam Meher – were arrested and subsequently granted bail. A police team also traveled to Bhubaneswar to locate the dancer and ascertain her whereabouts.
The issue snowballed into a major controversy after reports emerged that Chandanbhati police outpost in-charge, ASI Ranjit Pradhan, not only inaugurated the event but was also present among the audience, reportedly watching the performance without intervening.
Nisha later claimed that she performed the obscene dance at the insistence of the event organisers.
She has repeatedly faced controversies over her item number performances in Jatra shows, both in Odisha and in other states. Similar allegations recently emerged in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district, where her performance led to arrests of 14 organisers, suspension of three police personnel, and the transfer of Maunpur Sub-Divisional Officer Dr Tulsi Das Markama for allegedly granting permission without proper clearance and personally attending the show.
