‘Derogatory’ remarks on Sun temple: SC extends interim relief to Abhijit Iyer-Mitra

Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court today extended, till October 5, the interim protection from arrest to Delhi-based journalist Abhijit Iyer Mitra, who created a storm in Odisha Assembly and outside for his alleged derogatory tweets on the Sun and the Jagannath temples.

The apex court extended Mitra’s interim protection after he failed to move the Orissa High Court in view of the ongoing strike by the State Bar Association, sources said.

Earlier, Delhi’s Saket court had granted interim bail to Mitra bail on a bond of Rs 1 lakh, directing him to join investigation in Konark police station by September 28.

Mitra, a friend of former Biju Janata Dal MP Baijayant Panda, drew flak from all quarters of leaders cutting across the party line after he posted a video on social media making derogatory remarks on the Sun Temple and a series of tweets insulting Odisha people and their culture.

Following this, the Odisha government had formed a six-member House Committee headed by Leader of Opposition (LoP) Narasingha Mishra for probe into anti-Odisha statements by the journalist.