Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jun 29:

Biju Janata Dal President Naveen Patnaik today expelled Tattwa Prakash Satapathy aka Papu Pom Pom from the party following casting couch allegations against him.

Pic Courtesy: http://youtube.com/ Pic Courtesy: http://youtube.com/

“The President of Biju Janata Dal Naveen Patnaik today expelled Tattwa Prakash Satapathy from the party. A press notification on this context has been issued,” said BJD General Secretary Debi Prasad Mishra briefing the reporters this evening.

Mishra, however, refused to take further questions from the press and did not clarify why he was expelled.

While BJD did not officially explain the expulsion, political analysts pointed to the series of recent casting couch allegations against him behind the action.

The first such allegation was levelled on June 21 by a newcomer who accused him of sexual harassment without revealing her identity. The second allegation followed on June 23 when another actor made similar complaints. The comedian, however, ran out of luck following a casting couch complaint made by a minor on June 25.

A non government organisation lodged a complaint with Mahila police station the same day on behalf of the girl. An FIR was lodged on June 27. As per latest updates, Papu is on the run and Commissionerate Police today formed a special team to nab him.

To add to his worry, political pressure kept mounting as both BJP and Congress took to streets demanding arrest of the beleaguered comedian, who also was allegedly involved with tainted chit fund company Oscar group.

Besides, the announcement has not come as a surprise given BJD Spokesperson Pratap Deb’s statement yesterday that clearly hinted at possible action against him.

It may be noted here that Papu joined BJD on the eve of 2014 polls and was given a party ticket to contest from Champua Assembly constituency. He also campaigned extensively for the party in other constituencies during the polls.

The actor-turned-politician had to concede defeat in the Assembly election at third place behind the two heavyweight independents – Sanatan Mahakud and Kusha Apat – having polled just 9,551 votes as against 64,422 and 50,554 polled by the two independents.