BERHAMPUR: Former Congress MLA Ramesh Jena is in for more trouble with a woman of Gandhinagar in the city filing a rape case against him on Saturday.
Berhampur SP Asish Singh said after receiving a complaint from the woman, Town Police registered a case. The complainant, a resident of 5th lane in Gandhinagar, stated that after the death of her husband in 2013, Jena and his associate Bidu Bisoi came to her house to discuss her husband’s business. After some time, Jena allegedly raped her while Bisoi video recorded the incident.
Though she had lodged a complaint soon after, no police action was taken, she alleged. Taking advantage, Jena repeatedly raped her and threatened to release the clippings if she disclosed the matter, she said.
The woman gathered courage after the arrest of Jena and police assurance for protection and lodged the complaint.
Basing on the complaint, police registered the case against Jena, Bisoi and four others, said Singh. Investigation has been ordered into the earlier complaint of the victim and if any police officer is found guilty, stringent action would be taken, he said.
Lady police personnel would provide her security and the case would be entrusted to a lady officer for further investigation, the SP added.
Associates of Jena and four others are absconding and a manhunt has been launched to nab them. Meanwhile, police seized two suitcases containing important documents and a BMW car of realtor Sai Patnaik. Sai was arrested on Friday for his involvement in a land grab case in association with Jena.
In yet another development, Sadar police took Jena on five-day remand to interrogate him in connection with land grab cases.
The Crime Branch had produced Jena in a local court on Friday on completion of his two-day interrogation in connection with the murder of Srinivas Rath. Several cases in connection with tender fixing, land grabbing, gutkha trade and illegal firearms have been registered against Jena.
Dreaded Criminal held after encounter
Berhampur: Bhanjanagar police on Saturday nabbed dreaded criminal Ashok Swain of Tulasipalli village following an encounter. Bhanjanagar SDPO Ramesh Chandra Sethy said apart from being involved in several looting incidents, Ashok had killed an elderly woman of Kepiti village. He had also looted a couple last year. Recently, Commissionerate Police had come to Bhanjanagar in search of Ashok in connection with a bank robbery case. On a tip off that Ashok and his associate were at Kulada, police rushed to the spot. On seeing police jeep, Ashok fled from the spot on his motorcycle. Police chased him for around 10 km. Ashok then alighted from his motorcycle near Turumu village and opened fired at police. Police retaliated and a bullet hit Ashok’s knee. Immediately, he was overpowered. While the exchange of fire was on, Ashok’s associate escaped with the motorcycle. He would be nabbed soon, police said. An injured Ashok was admitted to Bhanjanagar hospital and later shifted to MKCG under police escort.