OTV MD Refutes Dalit Atrocity Charges, Accuses Govt Of Harassment

Bhubaneswar: Managing Director of Odisha Television Ltd (OTV) Jagi Mangat Panda has refuted the allegations of Dalit atrocity against her aired by some news channels.

In a release, Panda said some Odia TV channels affiliated with the state government have carried stories about an FIR filed against her and her family members on the alleged Dalit atrocities.

Maintaining that these allegations are totally baseless, she said ever since OTV covered some stories about COVID-19 mismanagement in Odisha, various state government authorities have been targeting OTV and its employees, as well as her family members for the last two months.

“This vindictive harassment by the state government based on false allegations has been there for everyone to see, and we fully expect more such false cases against us in future,” she pointed out.

Stating that OTV had approached the court and has received interim relief in two earlier matters from the court, Panda said there must be free and unbiased investigation in all these matters by credible, neutral agencies. “We have full faith in the judiciary of the nation and are confident that justice will be done,” she added.

Panda also appealed to the people to recognize this “government harassment” to dissuade OTV from exposing COVID-19 irregularities in the state.

Meanwhile, Khurda SP Ajay Pratap Swain on Saturday told the media that a case has been filed against the OTV MD, her father and brother in the Baghamari police station in Khurda district last night in connection with the alleged land grabbing in Sarua, Jayamangala and Goudapata villages under section 447/506 and 34 of the IPC and SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.

The people of these villages have alleged that the company is preventing them entering their farm land and forcing them sell their land at a throwaway price.