The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Odisha MLA and BJP leader Jayanarayan Mishra, accused of slapping a female police officer during a protest at the Sambalpur Collectorate in 2022.
A bench consisting of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and S.V. N Bhatti denied Mishra’s bail, remarking, “Those in leadership positions have to set an example for public behaviour.”
Following the verdict, Mishra stated that he was unaware of the Supreme Court’s decision but maintained that the allegations were politically driven, claiming that the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government fabricated charges against him.
“They (BJD) were in government and made a case against me under Section 307 of the IPC. This is totally politically motivated,” Mishra told reporters, arguing that the charges were part of an effort to undermine his position.
The accusations stem from an incident on February 15, 2022, when BJP supporters organized a protest outside the Sambalpur Collectorate. During the demonstration, Mishra allegedly assaulted a female police officer who approached him to control the crowd.
According to the complaint, Mishra reportedly used offensive language, inappropriately touched the officer, and slapped her on the cheek. The charges against Mishra include outraging the modesty of a woman, criminal intimidation, defamation, obscenity, wrongful restraint, and using criminal force against a public servant.
Mishra, however, denies any misconduct, asserting that the police officer acted aggressively toward him during the incident.
After his bail request was previously denied by the Orissa High Court on November 16, 2023, Mishra escalated his appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing that his custodial interrogation was unnecessary.
He claimed that the alleged incident took place in full view of the public, with video evidence to support his defense. Mishra further contended that the charges were politically motivated and orchestrated by local adversaries to damage his reputation and hinder his political career.
Despite Mishra’s insistence that the charges lack merit, the Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s ruling, leaving the BJP leader to confront the allegations without the protection of anticipatory bail. With accusations of misconduct in a public setting, the case has become a contentious issue in Odisha, especially as Mishra continues to claim that he is the target of politically motivated attacks by the ruling party.
The next steps in the legal process will involve further investigation into the incident, adding heightened attention to Mishra’s position and actions in the public eye.
