The investigation into the high-profile rape and foeticide case involving Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Corporator Amresh Jena has taken a significant turn, with Laxmisagar police arresting five individuals for allegedly aiding the fugitive corporator in evading apprehension.
The arrests come after a 19-year-old woman accused Jena of rape, foeticide, cheating, and criminal intimidation, prompting a case (No. 394/2025) filed on July 23 at Laxmisagar police station.
The five arrested individuals, identified as Bibek Kumar Swain (29), Bikram Mohanty (42), Debendra Kumar Bhola alias Bulu (45), Suman Kumar Sahoo (27), and Rajib Champati (45), were charged under Sections 64(2)(m)/89/296/351(2)/61(2)/249/3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) read with Section 6 of the POCSO Act. They are accused of providing conveyance and assistance to Jena, helping him avoid capture. The arrested individuals, hailing from various parts of Khordha and Jagatsinghpur districts, have been forwarded to judicial custody at Jharpada jail after their bail pleas were rejected.
The complainant, a resident of Jena’s ward from Puri district, alleged that the corporator exploited her under the promise of marriage starting in 2023 when she was 17 years old. She claims Jena took her to Puri, engaged in physical relations, and in February 2024, when she was still a minor, forced her to abort a two-month pregnancy by administering pills. The victim also reported receiving life threats to keep her silent.
Laxmisagar police have intensified their manhunt for Jena, conducting raids across multiple locations. Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jagmohan Meena confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with the victim’s medical examination completed and her statements recorded under BNSS Sections 180 and 183, first at the police station and later before a magistrate in the presence of her family.
The case has sparked widespread outrage, raising concerns about accountability within Odisha’s political sphere. BJD district president Ashok Chandra Panda called the matter “sensitive” and stated it would be referred to the party’s discipline committee for further action.
As the search for Amresh Jena continues, this case remains a focal point of public and political scrutiny, with calls for justice and stricter measures to ensure women’s safety in the state.
