MLA Bijaya Shankar now stares at trouble as case registered against him

By Pravakara Sahoo

Paradip, Feb. 3: Trouble continues to mount for Odisha’s BJD Tirtol MLA Bijay Shankar Das with the High Court of Orissa accepting his rumoured girlfriend Somalika Dash’s petition seeking registration of a case against the lawmaker. A single bench of Justice S.K. Panigrahi heard the petition of Somalika and asked the police to register her case.

In her petition, the 29-year-old Somalika challenged the “illegal action” and “inaction” of police. She said the Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of Jagatsinghpur police station was not registering the case on a first information report (FIR) filed by her.

On May 13, 2022, the petitioner had approached the inspector of Jagatsinghpur police station to lodge an FIR against the lawmaker accusing the latter with betrayal. The IIC allegedly did not register the FIR. She had later approached the district Superintendent of Police (SP) to record her statement under Section 154 (3) of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

 “The petitioner is directed to approach the IIC of Jagatsinghpur Police station along with a fresh complaint along with a copy of this order,” the court said.

The court also directed the IIC to register a case if any cognizable case is made out.

Following the High Court’s order, Somalika approached Jagatsinghpur IIC and filed a written complaint. The IIC has also assured her of registering a case this time.

“They were not registering my case for a long time. So, I sought the intervention of the High Court. With the High Court’s order, Jagatsinghpur IIC has assured me that my case would be registered. Earlier, I had approached the SP for the registration of the case. But, to no avail. Therefore, I had to knock on the door of the High Court,” said Somalika.

Earlier, Somalika had alleged that Bijay was operating sex rackets to raise money for his election expenses. She also accused the lawmaker of cheating, harassment and not turning up for marriage at the Registrar of Marriage office at Jagatsinghpur.

She leveled allegations of rape against him and maintained that she has proof to corroborate her allegations. However, the young lawmaker termed the rape allegations as baseless and said that it was a conspiracy against him.

Somalika and Bijaya were scheduled to marry at the sub-registrar office in Jagatsinghpur. However, the MLA did not turn up at the venue and feigned ignorance of the marriage registration date.