A day after a sex clip purportedly featuring him and two others went viral on social media, city Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena today filed a criminal case and a defamation suit against NSUI state chief Itish Pradhan and Pradip Pandey, the proprietor of the website that hosted the video.
While Jena appealed to the court to ban the video from the Internet, the Commissionerate of Police Bhubaneswar-Cuttack approached YouTube to remove the tape, which was also uploaded on the popular video sharing site.
"I have filed a criminal case and a defamation suit of Rs one crore at the sub-divisional judicial magistrate court here. Earlier, I had lodged a complaint with the police against Pradhan and Pande," Jena told reporters.
Stating that the truth will come out, Jena said the entire city is aware about his regard for the women.
Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said the Commissionerate Police has written to YouTube to remove the video from its website. "We will also investigate the matter," the DCP said.
When contacted, Pandey, the proprietor of niankhunta.Com, said, "I hosted the video without mentioning the mayor's name. It is up to the people to decide who featured in the video."
Meanwhile, BJP workers gheraoed the office of the Commissionerate of Police and blocked road at Power House square demanding Jena's arrest and dismissal from the post.
NSUI state president Pradhan yesterday at a press conference demanded Jena's resignation here claiming that the video featured Jena. He further alleged Jena's involvement in the murder of Rishi, student of a Bhubaneswar-based private engineering college.
However, Jena has dismissed the allegations, saying they are "baseless and concocted".
Meanwhile, BJD maintained a wait and watch policy after its general secretary and city Mayor was entangled in the alleged sex scandal.
"We are keeping a watch on the situation. The police are verifying the authenticity of the video. A police complaint has been filed," said BJD spokesman P K Deb.
The issue was raised in the Assembly yesterday with Congress chief whip Taraprasad Bahinipati demanding a CBI probe into the incident. He also demanded Jena's resignation saying the incident has "brought shame for the capital city and the entire state".
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