Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], Oct 26 (ANI): Odisha Inspector General (Crime Branch) Arun Kumar Bothra said that the court will decide if Abhijit Mitra, arrested for allegedly making derogatory comments on the Odiya culture, should be punished.

He said, "Abhijeet Iyer Mitra apologised in Odisha assembly for his comments. I have seen comments that he should be let off once he apologises there. Law does not work like that. Assembly proceedings and legal proceedings are different. It is for court to decide if he should be punished."

"He (Abhijeet Iyer Mitra) has been arrested on the basis of two FIRs registered against him for his derogatory, objectionable and vulgar comments about Odiya culture, people of Odisha and Lord Jagannath. The investigation was conducted and he was arrested."

Further commenting of Mitra's association with former Member of Parliament Baijayant Panda, Bothra said, "There was a case against Baijayant Panda for flying helicopter in Chilika area. What I understand is that once that case was registered, people came to know about Mitra. They started searching for him on internet and found these kind of comments. These cases are different."

He further clarified that Mitra was not arrested for his comments on rosogollas."There have been reports that Mitra has been arrested for his comments on rosogollas. I want to clarify that his arrest or legal action against him has nothing to do with rosogollas or his previous comments on rosogollas," Bothra said.

During a visit to the Konark Sun Temple on September 16, Mitra had posted a satirical video on Twitter, where he made derogatory remarks insulting Odisha, its culture, tradition and the lawmakers.

Mitra was arrested by Odisha Police on September 20 from Delhi on charges of hurting religious sentiments. A Delhi court later granted him bail against a bond of Rs. 1 lakh and directed him to join the investigation at Konark police station.

Mitra, had, however, tendered an unconditional apology while confirming that he would appear before the assembly house committee, which is probing the case. (ANI)

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