The Crime Branch (CB) on Friday summoned OTV managing director Jagi Mangat Panda in connection with the alleged gang-rape of a minor girl by some employees of the news channel.
The CB issued notice to Panda asking her to appear before it at the Crime Branch office here at 11 am on Saturday.
The State Government had two days ago directed the CB to probe the matter. Prior to it, the Commissionerate police was investigating the case.
Earlier, Panda had appeared before the Odisha State Commission for Women in this connection. She had issued a statement after deposing before the commission and said, “My utmost concern is for the minor girl. The allegations of heinous acts must be thoroughly investigated and if found to be true, the persons concerned no matter who they are, should be given exemplary punishment.”
As per a complaint lodged by the rape victim’s mother with the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR), the girl was gang-raped by several employees of the channel for around 15 days during the period of April-May after tying her hands and legs.
They also recorded videos of the incident and threatened the girl to leak it. Notably, the girl’s mother, who was working as a receptionist in the OTV during the relevant period, has alleged that the accused had threatened her daughter to kill her and her mother if she disclosed their names.
The victim’s mother has also mentioned in her complaint that though she reported the matter to the OTV MD, the latter did not take any action against the accused and suppressed the incident.
The MD also pressurised the complainant not to proceed in the case, the victim’s mother alleged.