Bhubaneswar: A House Committee of the state Assembly will submit its reports on the alleged breach of privilege by Delhi-based journalist Abhijit Iyer Mitra to Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat Friday.
Iyer Mitra was arrested by Odisha police October 23 on the basis of FIRs lodged against his alleged ‘derogatory, mischievous and objectionable comments’ on art and culture of Odisha, Lord Jagannath, legislators and the Odia community as a whole.
House Committee chairman Narasingha Mishra, also the leader of opposition in the Assembly, said, “The committee will submit its report tomorrow on the first day of the winter session of the Assembly.”
Mishra said the House panel was formed as per the Speaker’s directive.
Earlier, Iyer Mitra deposed before the House Committee for the third time and submitted an affidavit over his alleged remarks against legislators.
He had also tendered an unconditional apology for his derogatory remarks on the Konark Sun Temple and comments on MLAs.
Amat had September 20 constituted a panel to probe the journalist’s alleged derogatory remarks against the state and its lawmakers.
The police had registered case against Iyer Mitra at Sahid Nagar police station under Indian Penal Code sections 294 (annoying others), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 153A (promoting disharmony, enmity or feelings of hatred between different groups on the grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language), 500 (defamation), 506 criminal intimidation and section 67 (punishment for publishing or transmitting of material containing sexually explicit act in electronic form) of Information Technology Act over his derogatory remarks against Odisha and Konark Sun Temple.
Another case was also made against him at Konark police station. In September Iyer Mitra had posted a video on his Twitter handle where he criticised Odisha, its people, Lord Jagannath, Konark temple and also Odisha lawmakers.
Presently, he is lodged at Jharpada special jail here.
