Bhubaneswar: With the Odisha unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) terming the role of CEO over the arrest of Khordha MLA candidate Prasanta Jagadev as ‘unbiased’, the accusations of a man who drove the car in which the arrested leader was travelling on the day of election has raised many eyebrows.

The driver identified as Banamali Behera from Ghatikia village on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar today alleged that he was pressurised by police to act as an official witness to the alleged vandalisation of EVM.

“I was standing near my vehicle (OD-02 Y-7053) last night when a cop came near me and asked me to meet his higher-up, who was sitting in a white-coloured SUV. I was taken to a location between Ghatikia and Khadagiri in the police vehicle. Initially, I was charged with careless driving,” Banamali said.

“Had you been to Begunia on May 25 with Prasanta Jagadev and others in this car during polling,” the driver stated quoting the cops.

Prasanta Jagadev broke the EVM on the intervening day or not, the cops questioned the car driver.

“I cannot say anything on the alleged vandalisation of EVM Sir!, as I have not seen anything and was standing near my vehicle,” Banamali said in his reply to the policemen.

“I was then roughed up and scolded over my ignorance. While three policemen discussed something at a furlong away from me, a cop told me that I must act as an official witness,” the driver expressed.

“The cop pressurised me and I was threatened to implicate in a false case. After, under pressure and with much reluctance, I assured them of acting as an official witness, the cops allowed me to go home. I walked down the road back home at around 10.30 PM,” Banamali added.

Also Read: Odisha BJP workers gherao sub-collector office protesting Prasanta Jagadev's arrest

Meanwhile, in a presser held here, senior BJP leader and spokesperson Pitambar Acharya brought fresh allegations against Khordha sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Dillip Das.

“SDPO Dillip Das is a mining mafia. He made the BJP MLA candidate (Jagadev) sit on the floor at the police station as if the latter was a culprit. This is a gross violation of police norms. He did this, acting on the directives of Chief Minister Patnaik and the CM’s Special Secretary DS Kutey,” Acharya alleged.

“On-duty presiding officers and several others were pressurised and their statements were recorded to suit the fabricated needs. Why the CCTV footage is not being made public?” Acharya questioned.

“The entire incident was sponsored by BJD goons. Jagadev had been to the booth as a candidate to verify the polling process. He was misbehaved by police there,” the BJP leader further said.

Taking to her personal ‘X’ handle and embedding a visual in it, Bhubaneswar BJP MP candidate Aparajita Sarangi wrote, “Please listen. This explains the foul game of Police yesterday. MLA, Sri Prasanta Jagadev is in jail when there is no evidence, while BJD MLA, Chhendipada, Angul, whose acts of violence are in the public domain, is enjoying fresh air. Will Sri @Naveen_Odisha answer?”