Bhubaneswar minor girl gang-rape: Odisha CB summons OTV MD

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Crime Branch (CB) today summoned private regional news channel OTV’s MD Jagi Mangat Panda in connection with the alleged gang-rape of a minor girl by some employees of the organisation.

The agency has issued a notice to Panda asking her to appear before it at the Crime Branch’s office here tomorrow at 11 AM.

The state government had two days ago directed the CB to probe into the matter. The Twin City Commissionerate Police was earlier investigating the case.

Earlier, Panda had appeared before the Odisha State Commission for Women in this connection. She had issued an official statement after deposing before the commission and said, “My utmost concern is for the minor girl. The allegations of heinous acts must be thoroughly investigated and if found to be true, the persons concerned no matter who they are, should be given exemplary punishment.”

As per a complaint lodged by the mother of the victim with Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR), the girl was gangraped by several employees of the channel for around 15 days during the month of April-May.

The accused committed the offence after tying the hands and legs of the girl. They also recorded videos of the incident and threatened the victim to leak it, alleged the girl’s mother who was working as a receptionist in the organisation.

The complainant further alleged that the accused had threatened the minor girl to kill her and her mother if the victim disclosed their name.

The victim’s mother mentioned in her complaint that though she reported the matter to the MD of the private news channel, the latter did not take any action against the accused and suppressed the incident. The MD also pressurised the complainant not to proceed further in the case, the victim’s mother alleged.