Odia film producer arrested for assaulting woman journalist

Nayak allegedly assaulted and slapped the woman journalist on Friday, when the latter was deputed outside a theatre in Bhubaneswar to cover the premier of an Odia movie. She later lodged a complaint against the film producer.

Journalist unions across the state condemned the behaviour of the film producer and lodged complaints against him at different police stations. (File)

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The Commissionerate Police in Bhubaneswar on Saturday arrested Odia film producer Sanjay aka Tutu Nayak for allegedly assaulting a woman journalist in the city a day before.

Nayak was arrested after being detained by the police for interrogation at a police station in the city. “Based on the statement of the complainant and the witnesses and CCTV footage, we found prima facie evidence against the accused. Hence, he has been arrested and forwarded to court,” said a police officer.

Nayak, has been arrested under section 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 294 (using obscene words) and 354 (outraging modesty), said police sources.

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He was sent to judicial custody after a local court rejected his bail.

Nayak allegedly assaulted and slapped the woman journalist on Friday while the latter was deputed outside a theatre here to cover the premiere of an Odia movie. She later lodged a complaint against the film producer.

Journalist unions across Odisha condemned the film producer’s behaviour and lodged complaints against him in different police stations. Members of Odisha Women in Media – a forum of women journalists – also lodged a complaint with the deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Bhubaneswar seeking a fair probe into the matter.

Meanwhile, the State Commission for Women also registered a suo motu case in this connection and sought a report from the police on action taken within 15 days.

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