BJP accuses Odisha Police of targeting reporter who questioned CM Patnaik's aerial survey

On Thursday, a journalist working in OTV was allegedly picked up by the State Police. Soon after, BJP Vice president Baijayant Jay Panda alleged that journalist Ramesh Rath has been picked up after he broke the news of RTI activists' expose on Odisha CM's aerial survey of flood-hit areas. Panda asked as to why the Editors Guild is silent on the issue and mocked those who claim themselves as "champions of Freedom of Speech". He also said that CM Naveen Patnaik must respond asking if videos and pictures of his aerial survey on August 31 are fake. 

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What is the statement by the Police?

However, Odisha Police's statement refutes the claim made by the BJP leader. Rath was taken to Keonjhar police station and the Police have said that he was picked up for interrogation on a case related to the circulation of an obscene video clip of a sitting female MP during 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Police added that Rath's name came up during the investigation of that case, alleging that he is the one who provided video details. Police also said that after questioning, Rath was released within a few hours. 

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What is the RTI expose?

Rath broke a news on CM Naveen Patnaik's aerial survey on August 31, based on RTI responses. He claimed that only one OSS Air Management helicopter had taken off from the Bhubaneswar Airport at 10:12 AM and it had returned by 10:31 AM. Raising questions on the time taken by the CM for the aerial survey (19 minutes as per RTI response) in the flood-hit areas, the channel claimed that no VVIP movement was reported on that day.  

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What has AAI said?

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has refuted the claims made by OTV's report. As per reports, the AAI, in a letter to Joint Secretary to Odisha Chief Minister gave details about the Chief Minister’s air travel. AAI added that VVIP only includes President, Vice President, Prime Minister of India and Foreign Heads of state/Govt and CMs are not included. 

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