Police Detain Servitor For Allowing Suspended IIC Inside Puri Jagannath Temple

Puri: Police on Tuesday detained a sevitor of the Puri Jagannath Temple for allowing the now suspended Badachana Inspector-In-Charge (IIC) Deepak Kumar Jena and his family into the temple for darshan.

Laxmi Narayan Pujapanda alias Shyam, the sevayat, was interrogated at the Singhadwar Police Station. Pujapanda visited the police station on his own after hearing that he was wanted in connection with this case.

He, however, has alleged that Jena might have been allowed by the Jagannath Temple Police (JTP) and Odisha Police constables on duty at the temple gate.

Pujapanda was let off after serving a notice under Section 41A of CrPC.

His counsel Deepak Panda also said that the IIC might have entered by showing his ID-card at the gate and that Pujapanda had no role in the same.

The IIC and his family were caught by the sentry on duty at the temple exit. As public pressure mounted, the Singhadwar police detained Jena and registered a case.

Jena, his wife and two daughters had come in a white vehicle with an orange beacon on top. They entered the Dakshindwar of the temple and had darshan of the Lords. Jena was later suspended for this fiasco.

Currently, entering the temple premises is not allowed for the general public amid coronavirus concerns.