Journalist Arrested For ‘Blackmail & Sexual Exploitation’ Of Woman In Cuttack

Cuttack: Police on Tuesday arrested a journalist for allegedly sexually exploiting and blackmailing a woman in Odisha’s Cuttack city.

According to police sources, the married woman had approached the journalist, Akshay Ranjan Das, for a job. Akshay, who owns monthly Odia magazine ‘Khepanastra’ and is also its managing editor, promised her of ensuring appointment in a media house with a monthly salary of Rs 30,000. But he demanded Rs 1 lakh for the purpose.

The woman, who stays in Hajari Lane under Purighat police station, gave him the money after selling her jewellery. Though she was given assignments by the media house, salary was not paid to her for several. When she confronted Akshay and demanded salary as well as appointment letter and press card, the latter avoided her.

As per the complaint filed by the woman Mahila police station and Lalbag police station, Akshay called her for a meeting in his house at Press Colony in Nuapada in March last year. During the meeting, he gave her a drink spiked with intoxication and sexually assaulted her. He also made video shooting of the act.

Later, the journalist blackmailed the woman with the videos and forced her to continue with physical relationship. When she tried to oppose his demand, he threatened her of uploading the videos in social media. Finally, the woman filed the complaint with the police.

The police have arrested Akshay under Sections 376 (1), 328, 420, 506 of IPC and started further investigation.