Bhubaneswar: In a huge relief for Odia actor Tatwa Prakash Satapathy, who is popularly known as ‘Papu Pom Pom’ was acquitted in 2016 casting couch case here Tuesday. The comedian must have been spending sleepless nights since he was accused of his involvement in the matter.
A POCSO-designated court acquitted Papu Pom Pom and his associate Pradipta Swain alias Gitu in the casting couch case involving a minor girl. It had been alleged that the two had made sexual advances towards the minor girl on the pretext of providing her with work in the Odia film industry.
Both Papu Pom Pom and his aide Gitu were accused in a casting couch case registered under section 354 (A), 506, 509 and 34 of IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
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Twin City Commissionerate Police had arrested Papu and his aide June 30, 2016 from an apartment in Puri. They were then produced before the residential court of the Khurda District and Sessions Judge. Later they were sent to the Jharpada Special Jail here. The two were granted conditional bail August 10, 2016 by the Orissa High Court. Since then the hearing had been going on.
It should be stated here that the alleged victim had lodged an FIR against the actor June 25, 2016. She had accused the actor of making sexual advances towards her on the pretext of providing her a break in the Odia film industry.
Meanwhile Papu informed that once he gets the judgement order, he may file cases against the girl and ‘the one who had filed an FIR to defame me’.
