Case Registered Against Odisha MLA Bijaya Shankar Das After HC Intervenes

Cuttack: A case has been registered against BJD MLA from Tirtol Bijaya Shankar Das at Jagatsinghpur police station on the basis of a complaint lodged by his fiancee Somalika Dash, Jagatsinghpur SDPO Ramesh Singh informed on Friday.

This followed an Orissa High Court directive asking the petitioner to approach the IIC of the police station with a fresh complaint along with a copy of this order.

Somalika had moved the High Court, alleging that Jagatsinghpur IIC declined to register a case on the complaint filed on May 13, 2022, while the SP took no action against this police inaction.

Armed with the High Court’s order, Somalika approached Jagatsinghpur IIC and gave a written complaint. “Earlier, I approached the SP in this regard, but in vain because of which I had to seek the court’s intervention,” said Somalika.

According to sources, the MLA and Somalika from Deuligrameswer under Jagatsinghpur police limits knew each other while studying at SVM college. As things turned bad between them, Somalika made public their personal video during the last panchayat polls. She also approached the SP on the matter.

Both, however, agreed to solemnise the marriage with mediation and counselling on May 17, 2022.

Somalika, on June 18, 2022,  lodged an FIR in Jagatsinghpur police station alleging sexual harassment, betrayal and cheating by the legislator after he failed to turn up for marriage registration at the office of the sub-registrar in the district.

She had also accused him of running a sex racket and engaging innocent girls in illegal activity. The MLA used the money collected through the sex racket for election-related expenses, she alleged.