BJD corporator of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Amaresh Jena, was arrested from Balasore district on Sunday (July 27, 2025) in connection with a rape case lodged against him in the State capital, police said.
Jena, a prominent BJD leader was booked under the BNS sections 64(2) (rape), 89 (committing miscarriage without woman's permission), 296 (obscene act), and 352 (criminal intimidation), besides section 6 of the POCSO Act, at the Laxmisagar police station, where the survivor lodged a complaint on Wednesday, the police said.
As Jena was not available at his house and possible locations in the city and remained incommunicado, the police formed a special squad and launched a manhunt for the fugitive BJD leader.
"Finally, he was located at a village under Berhampur police station limit in Nilgiri area in Balasore and apprehended by the special squad," a police officer said, adding that he was being brought to Bhubaneswar.
A senior officer said that Jena was staying in a village in Nilgiri area, which is close to the forest, with the aim of escaping to the jungle if there was any police raid to apprehend him. However, he could not because the operation was carried out very secretly, the officer added.
