Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jul 25:

The Khordha District and Sessions Court today rejected the bail petition of Pradipta Swain alias Gitu - a close aide of Odisha comedy artist Papu Pom Pom aka Tattwa Prakash Satpathy in the Ollywood minor girl casting couch allegation case.

Pradipta Swain alias Gitu

The court which had held the hearing on the bail plea earlier in the day had kept it reserved, court sources said.

Notably, Papu and Gitu were arrested from Puri on June 30 for allegedly sexually exploiting a minor girl on the pretext of giving her a break in movies.

The duo was arrested from an apartment in Puri belonging to the latter and is currently lodged in the Jharpada Special Jail.

The Commissionerate Police has registered a case against Papu and Gitu under several sections of IPC and Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The court earlier on July 11 had rejected the bail pleas of the two.