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Court permission sought to shift Raja Acharya to special cell

BHUBANESWAR: Orissa prison authorities on Friday sought court’s permission to handcuff Raja Acharya, prime accused in Biranchi Das murder case, who was lodged in Jharpada Special jail here.

The move came in wake of controversial music video actresses Leslie Tripathy and Bidusmita Mantri alleging that they had received threat calls from the gangster and his aides.

“A prayer has already been made by the jail superintendent seeking court’s permission to put Acharya in handcuffs and shifting him to a special cell,” Inspector General of Police (Prison) V. Thiagarajan told The Hindu here.

If the accused attempted to commit crime while still in judicial custody by taking advantage of the system, it was imperative to put restrictions on his movements, Mr. Thiagarajan said.

While Leslie Tripathy informed Deputy Commissioner of Police Himanshu Lal the details of threat she allegedly received over phone from Acharya, her close friend Bidusmita lodged a complaint with Mahila Police Station about the threat call.

Leslie, who sought increase in police security around her, on Friday said it was surprising as to how the gangster was having access to mobile phones in the jail.

Meanwhile, Gitanjali Panda, widow of Biranchi Das, former coach of child marathoner Buddhia Singh, dismissed reports that her husband had ever received any funds through two trusts floated in name of the marathon kid.

Addressing a press conference here, Ms Panda said two trusts such as Budhia Singh’s Trust for Welfare of Children (BSTWC) and Budhia Singh Trust (BST) were floated but no organisation had deposited money in these two accounts.

The gangster had accused that donation to the tune of Rs. 8 crore was embezzled which could be one of the main reasons behind murder of Biranchi Das.

While senior IAS officer Priyabrata Patnaik was chairman of BSTWC, the coach was made managing trustee of BST.

She exhibited bank statements of two accounts, which reflected no outside contribution. “Whatever money was spent on Buddhia Singh it came from pockets of my husband,” Ms. Panda said.

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