Kendrapara: Chameli Ojha, Sarpanch of Tikhiri Gram Panchayat under Mahakalapada block in Kendrapara district, was arrested on Saturday and later remanded to judicial custody after being produced before the SDJM court.
The arrest stems from an incident that took place on June 10 when Ojha visited the office of the Mahakalapada Block Development Officer (BDO) to raise issues related to her panchayat. According to reports, a dispute erupted after she allegedly began recording a video inside the BDO’s chamber.
Following the incident, separate complaints were lodged by the BDO and the police. Acting on these complaints, police first arrested Ojha’s younger brother, Suryakant Ojha, on June 10 and subsequently arrested the sarpanch on Saturday. Both have been sent to jail.
Sources said the confrontation occurred when Ojha visited the block office to discuss public grievances and started recording proceedings on her mobile phone. After being informed by the BDO, Mahakalapada police reached the office and escorted Ojha and her brother to the police station. The sarpanch was reportedly live-streaming the developments during the incident.
Subsequently, Ojha submitted a written complaint to the Superintendent of Police (SP), alleging that she was assaulted by police personnel inside the police vehicle while being taken to the station.
The incident has triggered reactions from local panchayat representatives. Ojha, who currently serves as the President of the Kendrapara District Sarpanch Association, received support from the association, whose delegation led by secretary Sanjay Sethi met the district SP and demanded an impartial inquiry into the matter.
Ojha has also reportedly written to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi seeking intervention and a fair investigation.
Meanwhile, Kendrapara SP has dismissed the allegations of police assault. The police have cited CCTV footage from inside the police station, which purportedly shows Ojha sitting there in the presence of media personnel.
Officials said that while CCTV footage from the police station is available, the absence of surveillance cameras inside the police vehicle may make it difficult to independently verify the sarpanch’s allegation of assault during transit.
Police have initiated an investigation and are examining CCTV footage from the BDO’s chamber to ascertain the sequence of events that led to the confrontation.
Further investigation is underway.
