BJD Corporator Amaresh Jena Arrested in Rape Case, Suspended from Party
Key Points
Amaresh Jena was arrested after a 19-year-old accused him of rape and forced abortion when she was a minor.
Police arrested five individuals who helped Jena evade arrest; all were sent to judicial custody. The party has suspended the corporator and referred the case to its disciplinary committee amid public outrage.
Bhubaneswar, Jul 27: In a major development, BJD corporator Amaresh Jena was arrested by Commissionerate Police from Nilagiri in Balasore district on Sunday in connection with a rape case involving a minor girl. The arrest followed an intense overnight manhunt by Laxmisagar and Berhampur police teams.
Jena had been absconding since a 19-year-old woman filed a complaint at Laxmisagar police station on July 23, accusing him of rape, forced abortion, cheating, and criminal intimidation. The survivor alleged that Jena sexually exploited her since she was 17, promising marriage, and later forced her to terminate a two-month pregnancy in February 2024.
Police had earlier arrested five of Jena’s associates for allegedly helping him evade arrest. These individuals, hailing from Khordha and Jagatsinghpur districts, were forwarded to judicial custody after their bail pleas were rejected.
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Following his arrest, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) suspended Amaresh Jena from the party.
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