November 03, 2018:
On Saturday, Defence analyst Abhijit Iyer-Mitra submitted an affidavit to an Odisha Assembly committee on his alleged remarks about the state that purportedly amounted to breach of the legislators' privilege.
Iyer-Mitra had appeared before the panel on Friday but had sought a day's time to submit the affidavit.
Committee's Chairperson Narasingha Mishra said,"The panel will review Abhijit Iyer-Mitra's statements and the affidavit. If required, he will be asked to depose again."
Mishra, who is also the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, said the panel would submit its report to Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat in the next Assembly session.
On October 24, Iyer-Mitra apologized to the house committee for his comments on the Sun Temple in Konark that he had made in a video in September.
Mishra quoted,"I beg apology because of my stupidity."
However, the same day, the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police arrested him in connection with a criminal case filed for tweeting last year that the idol of Jagannath in a temple in Puri was actually from Kolkata and had been stolen "by evil Kalinga demon kings".
Delhi Court granted Iyer-Mitra bail after he furnished a surety of Rs 1 lakh on his first arrest.
The court also ordered him to join the Police Investigation but he did not, alleging a threat to his life.
Iyer-Mitra then moved the Supreme Court for protection from arrest. Top Court though refused to grant him bail, saying jail was the "safest place" for him.
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