Latest news with #AmareshJena
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
BJD corporator arrested in rape case
Bhubaneswar: The BJD corporator of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), Amaresh Jena, was arrested from Balasore district on Sunday in connection with a rape case lodged against him in Bhubaneswar, police said. Jena, a prominent BJD leader, was booked under the BNS sections 64(2) (rape), 89 (committing miscarriage without woman's permission), 296 (obscene act) and 352 (criminal intimidation), besides Section 6 of the POCSO Act, at Laxmisagar police station, where the survivor lodged a complaint on Wednesday. As Jena was not available at his house and possible locations in the city and remained incommunicado, the police formed a special squad and launched a manhunt for the BJD leader. 'Finally, he was located at a village under Berhampur police station limit in Nilgiri area in Balasore and apprehended by the special squad,' a police officer said. Jena was staying in a village in Nilgiri area, which is close to the forest, with the aim of escaping to the jungle if there was any police raid to apprehend him. However, he could not escape because the operation was carried out secretly, the officer said. Immediately after his arrest, the BJD issued an office order stating that: 'Amaresh Jena, Corporator, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, is hereby suspended from Biju Janata Dal with immediate effect.' The BJD Bhubaneswar president, Ashok Panda, told reporters on Sunday that Jena's suspension will not affect the party. 'No one is indispensable for BJD. It is party first. I reiterate that law will take its own course.' He said the BJD has acted immediately as soon as Jena was arrested by police. 'The BJD stands by its pro-women ideology. Jena's arrest will in no way damage BJD. It is a huge party with thousands of workers and leaders. He is an accused and will go through the legal process,' Panda said. On Saturday night, the police had arrested five aides of Jena on charges of harbouring him. The police said the five persons provided conveyance and assisted Amaresh Jena in evading arrest. The five arrested individuals hail from various parts of Khurda and Jagatsinghpur districts. They were forwarded to judicial custody after their bail pleas were rejected. A 19-year-old woman, in a written complaint at Laxmisagar police station, accused the BJD corporator of rape, foeticide, cheating and criminal intimidation. Jena, while absconding, told a section of the media that he was 'innocent' and 'framed' by the ruling BJP. In her complaint, the survivor alleged that the corporator sexually exploited her with the promise of marriage when she was 17 years old. She claims that Jena took her to Puri, engaged in physical relations, and in February 2024, when she was still a minor, forced her to abort a two-month pregnancy by administering pills. The survivor also alleged that she was threatened and directed not to reveal the matter to anyone. Police have recorded the statement of the survivor, and she also underwent a medical test. Bhubaneswar police had this week arrested the State president of NSUI, Udit Pradhan, for allegedly raping an engineering student. He has also been suspended from the party.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
BJD corporator held for raping minor in '23; suspended from party
Bhubaneswar: BJD corporator Amaresh Jena (49), who was evading arrest after a girl recently lodged a case against him for alleged rape in 2023, when she was a minor, was arrested on Sunday. An embarrassed BJD, which had been criticising the BJP govt over an alleged rise in crimes against women, suspended the Bhubaneswar corporator from the party. "We traced Jena to one of his acquaintance's residence in Nilagiri area of Balasore district. The acquaintance's suspected role of providing him shelter is being examined. On Saturday, we had arrested five associates of Jena for aiding his escape," assistant commissioner of police (zone-4) Abhimanyu Nayak said. Jena's arrest comes days after the city police arrested Udit Pradhan, state president of Congress's student wing, in a rape case . Jena's arrest followed a complaint lodged by the survivor on July 23. The complainant, currently aged 19, claimed Jena had sexually abused her in 2023, when she was underage. According to her FIR, their initial meeting took place in June 2023 during Raja festivities, which subsequently led to friendship. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Flights, Rentals & Accommodations Hotel Deals | Search Ads Browse Now Undo She alleged that she was two months pregnant following the sexual assault and had to go for an abortion in Feb last year, following Jena's assurance that he would marry her after divorcing his wife. But since April this year, Jena has been avoiding her, she claimed, and also issued death threats, asking her to leave the city. In her police complaint, she threatened self-immolation if the issue went unaddressed. Refusing to respond on the delayed reporting of the incident, ACP Nayak said, "Based on the girl's statement, we found prima facie evidence against the accused and arrested him." Jena was booked under BNS Sections 64(2) (m) (repeated rape), 89 (causing miscarriage without the woman's consent), 296 (obscene acts in public), 351 (2) (criminal intimidation) and under Section 6 of the Pocso Act (aggravated sexual assault of minor). While being taken to court, Jena pointed fingers at a woman who was arrested in Bhubaneswar in 2022 for allegedly operating a high-profile sextortion network. "I am sure she framed me," said Jena, who had filed a defamation complaint with the police against the woman on July 22. Jena's family members and relatives, protesting near the police station, also claimed he was framed. "On July 22, Jena had lodged a complaint against a woman for defaming and attempting to extort money from him. The very next day, an unknown girl lodged a rape case against him," a family member alleged. The woman, however, dismissed the allegations. "I am in no way linked with the case. I do not know the rape case's complainant. Jena is unnecessarily dragging me into the controversy," she said.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Bhubaneswar BJD Corporator Arrested In Rape Case, Suspended From Party
Bhubaneswar: BJD corporator of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Amaresh Jena, was arrested from Balasore district on Sunday in connection with a rape case lodged against him in the state capital, police said. Jena, a prominent BJD leader was booked under the BNS sections 64(2) (rape), 89 (committing miscarriage without woman's permission), 296 (obscene act), and 352 (criminal intimidation), besides section 6 of the POCSO Act, at the Laxmisagar police station, where the survivor lodged a complaint on Wednesday, the police said. As Jena was not available at his house and possible locations in the city and remained incommunicado, the police formed a special squad and launched a manhunt for the fugitive BJD leader. "Finally, he was located at a village under Berhampur police station limit in Nilgiri area in Balasore and apprehended by the special squad," a police officer said, adding that he was being brought to Bhubaneswar. A senior officer said that Jena was staying in a village in Nilgiri area, which is close to the forest, with the aim of escaping to the jungle if there was any police raid to apprehend him. However, he could not because the operation was carried out very secretly, the officer added. Immediately after his arrest, the BJD issued an office order stating that: "Amaresh Jena, Corporator, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, is hereby suspended from Biju Janata Dal with immediate effect." BJD Bhubaneswar president Ashok Panda told reporters on Sunday that Jena's suspension will not affect the party. "No one is indispensable for BJD. It is party first. I reiterate that law will take its own course." He said the BJD has acted immediately as soon as Jena was arrested by police. "The BJD stands by its pro-women ideology. Jena's arrest will in no way damage BJD. It is a huge party with thousands of workers and leaders. He is an accused and will go through the legal process," Mr Panda said. On Saturday night, the police arrested five aides of Jena on charges of harbouring him. The police said the five persons provided conveyance and assisted Amresh Jena in evading arrest. The five arrested individuals hail from various parts of Khurda and Jagatsinghpur districts, and were forwarded to judicial custody after their bail pleas were rejected, they said. A 19-year-old woman in a written complaint at Laxmisagar police station had accused the BJD corporator of rape, foeticide, cheating, and criminal intimidation. Jena, while on the run, told a section of the media that he was "innocent" and "framed" by the ruling BJP. In her complaint, the survivor alleged that the corporator sexually exploited her with the promise of marriage when she was 17 years old. She claims that Jena took her to Puri, engaged in physical relations, and in February 2024, when she was still a minor, forced her to abort a two-month pregnancy by administering pills. The survivor also alleged that she was threatened and directed not to reveal the matter to anyone. Police have recorded the statement of the survivor, and she also underwent a medical test. Bhubaneswar police had this week arrested the state president of NSUI, Udit Pradhan, for allegedly raping an engineering student. He has also been suspended from the party.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Another Odisha shocker: BJD corporator held for rape of minor; was absconding since 4 days
Representative image BHUBANESWAR: The Bhubaneswar police on Sunday arrested BJD corporator Amaresh Jena (49) for allegedly raping a minor girl in 2023. He was on the run since a case was registered against him on July 23. His arrest came a day after the police arrested his five associates for allegedly aiding his escape after the rape case was registered against him. 'We have arrested him from the Balasore area. He will be produced in court,' a senior police officer said. On Saturday, the govt terminated the appointment of Amaresh's elder brother, Samaresh Jena, from his position as an additional standing counsel. On July 23, the rape survivor, who is now 19, lodged a complaint alleging that Jena sexually abused her in 2023. As per the complaint filed by the girl, she met Jena in June 2023 during Raja festivities, and their friendship grew after that. She alleged that she aborted a two-month-old pregnancy in February last year. She said Jena convinced her to abort, promising that he would divorce his wife and marry her. The girl accused Jena of starting to avoid her since April and threatening to kill her unless she left the city. The girl threatened self-immolation if no action was taken on her complaint.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- New Indian Express
Five held in Bhubaneswar for helping escape of rape-accused corporator
BHUBANESWAR: Laxmisagar police on Saturday arrested five persons for their alleged involvement in facilitating escape of BJD corporator from ward no- 45 Amaresh Jena, who is accused of raping a minor girl. Police had registered a case in this connection on Wednesday after the 19-year-old girl lodged a complaint alleging the corporator had raped her on pretext of marriage. In the complaint, the victim alleged that she had come in contact with Jena in 2023 when she was 17 years old. The girl claimed that they were in a relationship and he had promised to marry her. She even alleged that he had impregnated her and later forced her to carry out an abortion. However, in May this year, Jena allegedly threatened her of dire consequences if she did not leave the city. Police registered a case under various sections of BNS and POCSO Act and launched a search operation to trace Jena.
