The Civil Judge (Senior Division) Court here on Saturday temporarily restrained the media from publishing, telecasting or circulating any defamatory contents against Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor and BJD general secretary Ananta Narayan Jena in an alleged sex video scandal that has been rocking the State since Thursday.
The court also asked Niakhunta.com proprietor Pradeep Pandey, who circulated the controversial video, and Student Congress State president Itish Pradhan, who in a Press conference had demanded the Mayor’s resignation alleging his involvement in the scandal and even displayed the video, not to publish or circulate the video till the case is sub-judice.
The court also ruled to issue notices to the seven opposite parties, including Pandey and Pradhan and some media house representatives, for appearance and filing of replies to the show-cause notices on December 28 and posted the matter for next hearing on that day.
The court in its order stated, “The petitioner (Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena) is a public representative holding a responsible position and as genuineness of the alleged video has been challenged by him by instituting the criminal case and this suit, this court feels that there is urgency to temporarily restrain the opposite parties from publishing/telecasting defamatory contents against the petitioner till appearance of the opposite parties or else the purpose of filing the suit will be defeated by delay.”
On the other hand, opposition BJP and Congress have intensified their agitations demanding the Mayor’s resignation.
While BJP activists staged a demonstration at the party’s mandal level in the city to register their protest, Student Congress activists were waylaid by the police while they trying to march towards the official residence of the Mayor at Raj Mahal Square. A scuffle was also ensued between the Student Congress activists and the police during the stir.
“If the Mayor does not step down by Sunday, the Chhatra Congress will intensify its protest across the State,” warned Students Congress president Itish Pradhan, demanding a CBI probe into the video clip and death of engineering student Asutosh Mohanty alias Rishi.
The activists also burnt effigies of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Mayor Jena.