Cuttack: Two senior leaders of BJP namely Union Minister of State (MoS) for Tribal Affairs and Jal Shakti Bishweswar Tudu and Sundargarh parliamentarian Jual Oram have moved the Orissa High Court seeking anticipatory bail, a source informed Friday.
According to the source, Tudu and Oram are facing serious charges of assault and indecent behaviour. Union Minister Tudu was accused of assaulting two Odisha government officials with a chair at his party office January 21. He earlier filed the bail application February 2 through his counsel Pankaj Khandelwal apprehending arrest over the case. However, it is not known so far as to when the bail plea would be heard by the High Court in Cuttack.
A case was registered against Tudu at Baripada Town police station based on an FIR lodged by the official duo. Both officials identified as District Planning Board deputy director Ashwini Mallick and assistant director Debasish Mohapatra are posted in Mayurbhanj parliamentary constituency segment which is represented by Tudu.
Acting on the FIR, Baripada Town police have launched a probe against the Union Minister. A joint team of police and forensic officials recently visited the Union Minister’s office in Mayurbhanj.
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In another incident, former union minister Oram has filed a petition for anticipatory bail in connection with a case registered at Jhirpani police station based on an FIR lodged by a woman.
In the FIR, the woman has complained that Oram showed indecent behaviour to her when she sought help from him for contesting the upcoming three-tier polls. The offence allegedly committed by Oram is punishable under Sections 294, 354 and 507 of the IPC.
A single bench of Justice S Pujahari heard the plea Thursday and granted anticipatory bail to the MP on condition that he will cooperate with the probing police team, the source further said.
“While granting bail, the bench observed that Jual Oram is prepared and willing to cooperate with the probing team and has no chance of absconding or tampering with the prosecution evidence, if released on anticipatory bail,” counsel of the Sundargarh MP stated.
The High Court directed that in the event of arrest of the respondent Jual Oram in connection with the case, he be released on bail by the police on such terms and conditions as deemed just and proper.
PNN