Kendrapara, Jun 16: The Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Court in Kendrapara on Tuesday granted bail to Tikhiri Sarpanch Chameli Ojha, who was arrested in connection with a case of alleged assault on police personnel.

Ojha was released on bail against a bond of Rs30,000 and two sureties. Her lawyer, Ramakant Kanungo, filed the bail application after consulting her at the district medical facility earlier in the day. The court accepted the plea, citing her health condition and other grounds.

Ojha had earlier alleged that Mahakalpada police forcibly seized her mobile phone on June 11, claiming it contained several videos. She repeatedly demanded its return, and her father later confirmed that the phone was handed back five days later. He has sought strict action against those responsible.

The controversy stems from an incident on June 10 at the Mahakalpada block office premises, where Ojha was accused of misbehaving with officials. Based on video evidence, police detained her and seized her phone. Ojha, however, filed a complaint alleging misconduct by police officers, but her FIR reportedly did not include references to the videos or the names of the officers mentioned in her petition.
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This discrepancy has raised questions about the handling of the case, with allegations that her complaint was not properly registered. The matter has now reached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which is expected to examine the claims.

Ojha’s bail has drawn attention to the larger issue of accountability in police investigations and the rights of elected representatives at the grassroots level. Her case continues to generate debate in Kendrapara district, where she remains a controversial figure.