Bhubaneswar: Odia film producer Sanjay Nayak was arrested today for assaulting a woman journalist in full public view here yesterday.
The Kharvela Nagar Police here arrested Shri Nayak this afternoon for allegedly slapping and hurling filthy language at the lady scribe.
The incident took place while she was covering some issues at Sriya-Swati Talkies here around 12.50 pm on Friday afternoon.
“Based on the complaint of the woman journalist, a case (No 553/23) has been registered. A lady sub-inspector has been investigating the case and we have examined the video footage of the incident and recorded statements of all eye witnesses present there. The accused has been arrested today,” Rajanikanta Mishra, inspector in-charge, Kharvelnagar PS told media persons.
The Police also recorded the statement of the complaint under 161 of CrPC, he informed.
Till now, primafacies evidences have been collected to prove all charges framed against the producer, who will be produced before court soon,
The case has been registered against Tutu Nayak under sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 294 (use of obscene words in public place) and 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the IPC.
“Nayak slapped me on my face and hurled abuses. I was shocked and my mike and mobile phone fell off my hands. As I sat down to gather the items, he hit me on my back. I don’t know why he behaved like this,” the jurno had said in her complaint.
Since the incident occurred in front of other journalists, the victim said she felt humiliated and hurt.
Earlier in the day, members of Odisha Women in Media (OWM), an association of women journalists of the state, called on Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh and submitted a memorandum demanding a fair probe in this connection.
Condemning the incident, the OWM members urged the DCP cop to ensure a safe environment for the working female journalists in the city.
Meanwhile, taking suo-moto cognizance on this incident, Odisha State Commission for Women (OSCW) has sought a detailed report from the Bhubaneswar DCP by November 20.
Shri Nayak is already in controversy for announcing to ‘boycott’ an Odia actor Manoj Mishra. Earlier, two Odia actresses had also brought ‘casting couch’ allegations against the producer.