The Supreme Court of India has stepped into the legal fray surrounding Jayanarayan Mishra, a prominent figure in Odisha's political landscape and the Leader of the Opposition, who faces allegations stemming from an altercation with a female police officer. Mishra, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been granted interim protection from arrest by the apex court pending further legal proceedings.

The case against Mishra revolves around an incident that occurred on February 15 last year outside the Sambalpur Collectorate, where the BJP was staging a sit-in protest. Allegedly, tensions escalated when the protesters, including Mishra, attempted to breach the gates of the government office, prompting intervention by law enforcement officers. It is claimed that during this confrontation, Mishra engaged in behavior deemed inappropriate and aggressive towards a female police official, including purportedly using profane language, making physical contact, and slapping her.

These accusations have resulted in a slew of charges against Mishra, including outraging the modesty of a woman, defamation, obscenity, criminal intimidation, wrongful restraint, and using criminal force against a public servant. However, Mishra vehemently denies these allegations, asserting that it was the woman officer who acted inappropriately and physically assaulted him.

The legal battle escalated when the Orissa High Court denied Mishra anticipatory bail on November 16, 2023, prompting him to seek recourse from the Supreme Court. Mishra's legal team argued before the apex court that custodial interrogation was unnecessary, particularly since the alleged incident was captured on video and occurred in broad daylight. They also highlighted the lack of police summons despite significant time having elapsed since the incident, suggesting ulterior motives behind the charges.

Furthermore, Mishra's plea emphasized that the allegations were part of a concerted effort to defame and harass him, orchestrated by individuals with vested interests. Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, along with advocates Sarthak Nayak and Satish Kumar, represented Mishra in the proceedings before the Supreme Court.

Responding to Mishra's petition, the Supreme Court issued notice to the Odisha government and granted interim protection from arrest to Mishra pending further developments. The court has directed the state government to submit its response within four weeks, signaling the commencement of a legal process that will determine the veracity of the allegations against Mishra.

Case: Jayanarayan Mishra vs State of Odisha and ors,

Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No(s). 1145/2024

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