Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Jul 24:

Police have today detained Manoj Nayak, manager of Indra Bhuban Jatra Party and are interrogating him in connection with casting couch allegation levelled against him by a female actor of the opera group.

Jatra casting couch

Other actors of the opera group gheraoed Cuttack Sadar police station protesting against Manoj’s detention by the police.

A female actor of the opera group on Saturday had lodged a complaint against Manoj at the Cuttack Sadar police station alleging that he had forced her to maintain physical relations with him while promising to give her an opportunity to act in a specific role.

“The female actor’s allegations are baseless. In jatra (opera) such things never happen. This is being done to defame jatra. Things will be clear after the police investigation,” said Jatra Kalakar Sangh president and acclaimed jatra actor Daitari Panda.

Later in the day the Cuttack Sadar police recorded the statement of the female actor under section 161 of the Cr Pc, reports said.