Senior General Secretary and Spokesperson of Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Smt. Lekhashree Samantasinghar has formally filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Nilagiri MLA Santosh Khatua, accusing him of making sexually offensive and defamatory remarks during a public interaction on July 2, 2025.
According to the FIR submitted at Mahila Police Station in Bhubaneswar, Khatua allegedly described Samantasinghar as a “prostitute” and a “kingpin of a sex racket”—comments the complainant claims were made without evidence and were intended to humiliate her publicly, undermine her professional role, and silence her criticism of alleged criminal activities linked to the MLA, including elephant poaching.
Samantasinghar asserted that the statements not only tarnished her image but also inflicted mental trauma, defamed women in politics, and violated her constitutional and professional rights. The FIR emphasises that such behaviour constitutes criminal intimidation and workplace harassment, and seeks immediate police action, including the arrest of the accused.
A video recording of the MLA’s remarks has reportedly been submitted as evidence.
As a senior party spokesperson, Samantasinghar had recently held a press conference challenging Khatua’s alleged misconduct. The FIR claims that his retaliatory statements were an attempt to exclude her from political discourse and intimidate women from active participation in public life.
The matter has sparked political debate on the safety and dignity of women in public office, with calls for swift legal intervention and public accountability.
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