New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: In a jolt to veteran BJP leader and Odisha MLA Jayanarayan Mishra, the Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed his anticipatory bail application in connection with a case against him for alleged assault of a woman police officer.
The case pertains to the Sambalpur MLA being accused of slapping a woman police officer in 2023.
People in leadership position must set an example for public behaviour, a bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice SVN Bhatti said while rejecting the legislator’s bail application.
The case against Mishra is related to developments that took place on February 15, last year near the Sambalpur Collectorate, where BJP was holding a sit-in protest.
Mishra had allegedly slapped Dhanupali police station IIC Anitarani Pradhan while several BJP leaders and workers were staging protest over deteriorated law and order situation.
As the saffron party leaders and workers were heading towards the office of the Collector, police stopped them. The activists then scuffled with the police personnel.
Meanwhile, Mishra was seen shouting at the woman IIC and threatening to slap her. The BJP leader was accused of manhandling the IIC, which led to tension at the site.
While several videos of the incident were later circulated, Mishra refuted the allegations and claimed that the woman IIC had assaulted him.
Earlier, the Orissa High Court had denied anticipatory bail to Mishra in the matter on November 16, 2023, which prompted the BJP MLA to approach the Supreme Court for relief.
Before the Supreme Court, his counsel argued that there was no need for a custodial interrogation in the case since the alleged incident took place in broad daylight and was captured on video.
The Court had earlier granted him interim protection in the matter. However, this protection will come to an end with the dismissal of Mishra’s plea.
