Casting couch case: Actor, aide granted bail by HC

Cuttack, Aug 11: The Orissa High Court today granted bail to Odia comic actor and expelled BJD leader Tatwa Prakash Satapathy, who was arrestd on the charge of sexually harassing a minor girl.

Justice J P Das also granted bail to Satapathy's associate Pradeep Sahoo, who was also arrested in the same case along with the actor popularly known by his screen name Papu Pompom.

The two were given bail on condition that they will not influence the witnesses or tamper with evidence. They were asked to cooperate with the investigating officer whenever required. Two courts in Khurda district had last month refused to grant them bail.

Satapathy, accused in a casting couch case involving the minor girl, and Sahoo were arrested from Puri on June 30, a day after Odisha Chief Minister and BJD President Naveen Patnaik expelled the actor from the party.

The police have registered a case against Satapathy and Sahoo under various Sections of the IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

Friends Foundation, a city based NGO, had filed a complaint at Mahila Police Station against Satapathy accusing him of sexually abusing the minor girl after promising to give her a break in films.

PTI