Odisha chief of ABVP booked for ‘verbal abuse’ of mediapersons

Abhilash Panda allegedly called the media "a bunch of unscrupulous and corrupt people."

Students of ABVP shout slogans during their protest at the Delhi University campus against AISA activists who were demanding the unconditional release of JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar on Saturday

The Odisha unit Secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) was on Sunday booked in connection with verbally abusing mediapersons at a college function here, police said.

Police registered a case against Abhilash Panda, State secretary of the ABVP, a senior police officer said.

Mr. Panda had allegedly made “unsavoury comments” against the mediapersons on Saturday during a function in Kendrapara Autonomous College here, he said.

The case was registered under the Indian Penal Code Section 294 (obscene act in any public place), Section 500 (defamatory speech), Section 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Purna Chandra Pradhan, said.

Mr. Panda was not immediately available for comment.

‘Bunch of corrupt and unscrupulous people’

Mr. Panda, while addressing the function which was attended by Minister of State and Information and Public Relations Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, allegedly described those in media circles as “a bunch of corrupt and unscrupulous people,” the FIR stated.

While the United Progressive Alliance government was taking good care of them [media], the NDA government led by ‘Modiji’ [Prime Minister Narendra Modi] have stopped extending undue favours to media people and therefore, they have turned vociferous critics of ‘Modiji’, the mediapersons claimed in their complaint.

They say he didn’t stop at that

Mr. Panda went on hurling verbal invectives much to the discomfiture of those on the dais, including the Minister, the mediapersons alleged.

Finally, the Minister intervened when agitated journalists raised objection to the utterances of the ABVP functionary, according to those present at the function. Later, Mr. Panda left the venue with police escorting him from the spot.

The SDPO said the complaints were being investigated and appropriate step would be taken.