Balangir: Patnagarh MLA Saroj Meher is reportedly being grilled by police and likely to be arrested anytime soon, reliable sources said.
The MLA had allegedly forced PWD assistant engineer Jayakant Sabar to do sit-ups and and directed the executive engineer to slap him at Belapada in Balangir district on June 6, leading to public outcry.
The Patnagarh police had registered a case against Meher on the basis of a complaint lodged by his wife of the harassed engineer.
According to sources, police picked up the MLA from his house late on Sunday and marathon interrogation is underway at Patnagarh police station.
On June 9, collector Arindam Dakua, in a media briefing, had confirmed the incident on basis of a fact-finding report of Patnagarh sub-collector. The collector had also said that he would send the report to the state government.
On June 14, Balangir SP K Siva Subramani had a meeting with the IIC and SDPO of Patnagarh police station in this connection.
Apprehending his arrest, Meher had moved the Odisha High Court for anticipatory bail.
On June 20, the court deferred the hearing on his bail plea and asking the police to submit the case diary.
Protests Poured In
Balangir Zilla Adivasi Kalyan Sangh held a demonstration at the district collector’s office in Balangir and threatened to gherao the State Assembly on June 26.
Besides, the Balangir Diploma Engineers’ Association had also protested against the unsavoury incident and submitted a memorandum to the district collector.
