BJD Corporator's Associates Arrested Amid Rape Allegations: What We Know

Arrests Made in High-Profile Rape Case

Bhubaneswar: Authorities have detained five individuals linked to BJD corporator Amaresh Jena, who has been on the run following serious allegations of rape in the state capital.

Jena, a notable figure within the BJD, faces multiple charges including sections 64(2) (rape), 89 (inducing miscarriage without consent), 296 (obscene behavior), and 352 (criminal intimidation), along with section 6 of the POCSO Act, as reported by the police after a complaint was filed at the Laxmisagar police station on Wednesday.

According to a police statement released late Saturday, the five individuals were arrested for aiding Jena by providing transportation and support while he evaded capture.

These suspects, originating from different areas within Khurda and Jagatsinghpur districts, have been placed in judicial custody after their requests for bail were denied.

A 19-year-old woman has accused the BJD corporator of rape, foeticide, fraud, and intimidation in her written complaint to the police. While in hiding, Jena claimed innocence and suggested that he was being targeted by the ruling BJP.

The survivor alleges that Jena exploited her sexually under the pretense of marriage when she was just 17. She asserts that he took her to Puri, engaged in sexual relations, and coerced her into aborting a two-month pregnancy in February 2024, when she was still a minor, by administering pills.

Additionally, she reported being threatened and instructed not to disclose the incidents to anyone.

The police have documented the survivor's statement, and she has also undergone a medical examination.

Ashok Panda, president of BJD's Bhubaneswar unit and a former minister, remarked, "This is a sensitive matter that will be brought before the party's disciplinary committee. For now, we will let the legal process unfold."