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A day after a case of sexual abuse was registered against Orissa Assembly Speaker Maheswar Mohanty, the complainant lady marshal remained untraceable. The police on Saturday recorded the statement of her neighbours while the government promised lawful action.
Lady Assistant Marshal Gayatri Panda, who had lodged an FIR of sexual harassment against the Speaker, remained untraced and her residence in Bhubaneswarwas found locked by a police team, Deputy Commissioner of Police Amitabh Thakur said.
"Police officials recorded the statement of Panda's neighbours after finding her house in unit-8 area locked," he said.
But she would have to cooperate with the police in the investigation, as her statement was vital for the probe to progress, the DCP pointed out.
"Since we are unaware of her whereabouts, a team will visit Panda's village at Mahanga," Thakur said.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday asserted that his government always stood for proper action as per law. "Whatever is lawful will be done," he told reporters.
Patnaik, however, skirted queries about the possibility of the Speaker's resignation in the wake of registration of the criminal case against him at the Mahila police station. He said that the government had proposed a probe by a House Committee but the opposition did not cooperate.
The Speaker, who has denied the charge of sexual abuse, promised to cooperate with the police in the investigation.
Assembly adjourned sine die:
Amidst uproar and frequent adjournments, Orissa assembly was on Monday adjourned sine die as opposition stormed the well demanding Mohanty's resignation.
As the House assembled in the morning, opposition members raised slogans in support of their demand.
Deputy speaker Prahallad Dora made a vain attempt to conduct business during the question hour.
Attempts by opposition members to advance into the presiding officer's dais were thwarted as the podium was cordoned off by assembly marshals. As unruly scenes persisted, the deputy Speaker first adjourned the house till 1215 hours.
However, similar scenes were witnessed when the House reassembled, prompting him to adjourn it again for 20 minutes.
Notwithstanding obstructions by opposition, which had been stalling the assembly since last week over the scandal involving the speaker, the government managed to get the appropriation bill for 2008-09 with a provision of Rs 28,747.08 crore passed by voice vote amidst pandemonium.
The House was adjourned sine die, two days ahead of schedule, marking the end of the budget session of the assembly, which was rocked by the sexual harassment charges.