Journalist Abhijit Iyer Mitra, who is in jail over his anti-Odisha remarks, is likely to be released soon as the State Government on Tuesday decided not to accord sanction of prosecution against him in the cases where prosecution has been sought and also to take steps to withdraw other cases pending against him.
The Government took the decision considering Mitra’s request of withholding sanction to prosecute him in certain criminal cases pending against him, informed a Home Department release.
“Iyer Mitra has appealed to accept his apology and contrition in having wounded the sentiments of people of Odisha without intention. He too mentioned that the Odisha Legislative Assembly pardoned him on November 16, 2018 considering his apology against his ‘without malice and mal-intent’ remarks,” informed the release.