Gajbhiye dares Odisha govt to take action against him

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 10:

Even as the Odisha government is awaiting the report of two inquiries to decide on the action it would take against former Kendrapara SP Satish Gajbhiye for his alleged excesses during the agitation over Sarathi Baba, the man in the dock has dared the government to take action against him threatening to move the court if the latter does so.

In an exclusive interview to Kanak TV aired this evening, Gajbhiye claimed he was in constant touch with his higher-ups all through the stand-off with the agitating people and briefed them on the situation on the ground every 5-10 minutes.

Asked specifically if he was in touch with DGP Sanjeev Marik, the ex Kendrapara SP said; “He is my boss and thus I was duty-bound to keep him updated on the situation on the ground.”

He, however, sidestepped a question on whether he also kept the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) posted about the developments on the ground.

Clearly in no mood to give in despite the state-wide clamour for his head, Gajbhiye said; “I have nothing to repent for what happened in Kendrapara. My conscience says I have done nothing wrong. I have taken appropriate action as demanded by the situation at that moment as part of my duty. I will move the court if government takes action against me.”

Reiterating the assertion h made his now-removed post on Facebook on Saturday night, Gajbhiye told Kanak TV that there was no evidence against Sarathi Baba.

“Somebody staying with some woman who is an adult, especially when it is consensual, doesn’t constitute enough ground to arrest the Baba,” he said.

Asked how Crime Branch could arrest the Baba if his claim that there was no evidence against him was correct, Gajbhiye was distinctly evasive. “Crime Branch people are experts and they could have come across some evidence using their expertise,” was his tame answer to this fundamental question..

The former SP patted Kendarapara police saying it had done a good job. In a revelation of sorts, he said; “By guarding Sarathi Baba’s ashram, they thwarted the Baba’s attempt to escape from the ashram donning a woman’s attire.”

Gajbhiye was removed as SP at the height of the turbulence in Kendrapara and shifted to the police headquarters without a post. The two major opposition parties, Congress and BJP, lawyers and civil society organisations held statewide demonstration today demanding his arrest.