Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Jul 26:

The Orissa High Court today granted interim protection to Odisha film director Tapas Sargharia against arrest by the police until further orders in connection with casting couch allegation levelled against him by television actor Sarmistha Priyadarshini.

Sarmistha-Priyadarshini fine cut

The High Court while issuing the order has fixed August 19 as the next date for hearing in the matter.

Earlier on Monday, the High Court had granted similar protection to film director Chandi Parija and film producer Subrat Nayak in the same case while fixing the next date for hearing in the matter for August 18.

It may be recalled here that Sarmistha had filed a complaint with the Mahila Police Bhubaneswar on June 26 against directors Tapas Sargharia and Chandi Parija, event manager Bapi Jena, producer Subrat Nayak, husband-wife duo and tele serial producers Nihar Samal and Bini Samal alleging that they were sending lewd texts on social media platforms, seeking sexual favours and threatening her of dire consequences.

The actor, in her complaint, had alleged that Bapi Jena was forcing her to spend a night with her in a hotel.

Besides, she had alleged that Chandi Parija and Bini Samal were threatening her to throw her out of television serials if she did not give in to their demands of ‘compromise’. In addition to this, they had threatened her to ruin her career and eliminate her.

The actor had recorded her statement before the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court in Bhubaneswar under Sec 164 of Cr PC on June 28.

Earlier on June 27, the actor had recorded her statement under Sec 161 CrPC with the Mahila Police station Bhubaneswar.

Based on her complaint, Commissionerate Police had on June 27 served notices to six persons– directors Tapas Sargaria and Chandi Parija, event manager Bapi Jena, producer Subrat Naik, husband-wife duo and tele serial producers Nihar Samal and Bini Samal.

The Mahila police station had registered a case under Sec 354, 294, 506 and 34 of IPC on June 26.

Further, the actor on July 4 had filed another complaint at the Mahila police station alleging that she was receiving threats to her life. She also alleged that she was receiving innuendos over the phone with regard to her character.

In view of the threat to her life, Sarmistha had prayed for police protection.

She had claimed in her complaint that she has been receiving threats to her life from those against whom she had lodged a complaint of sexual exploitation adding that some youths sponsored by them were regularly threatening her dire consequences.

She has said that unless the six against whom she had complained are not arrested immediately, she has a threat to her life and hence she needs police protection.