Paradip: BJD MLA of Paradip Sambit Routray has landed in trouble after police complaints were filed against him by a woman for allegedly misbehaving with her during a visit to an ashram in Kujang block of Odisha's Jagatsinghpur district here today.

The victim, identified as Kanchan Swain, a former BJD woman leader of Bagoi panchayat in the block and a member of BJP Mahila Morcha, has accused the legislator of misconduct during an interaction at the Bana Bihari Matha renovation programme in the area.

As per reports, Routray had gone to attend the Matha renovation event under 5T programme where Swain sought answers from him on some issues. However, the MLA got triggered and reportedly hurled abuses at her in public, a video of which has gone viral.

Following the incident, Swain reached out to police and filed two separate cases against the MLA and demanded strict action against him failing which the Mahila Morcha would take to the streets.

"MLA Routray had come to the Bana Bihari Matha programme with which I have been associated for a while. I had never seen him here getting involved in any of the works. When I asked him as to what brought him to the Matha, he got provoked and verbally abused me. It is my right as a citizen of this country to have the freedom of speech and as a people's representative, if he tries to suppress my voice, strict action should be taken against him," she stated in the complaint.

Meanwhile, Routray in a video message has dismissed the allegations, calling it a ploy of the BJP to defame him. "I have never misbehaved with any  woman. I recently lost my mother and know the importance of treating women with respect. Since Kanchan Swain has known my family for long, I was informal in my interaction with her which got misconstrued and may have appeared disrespectful. This is merely BJP's agenda to defile my image," he said.