Journalist Abhijit Iyer arrested for 'derogatory remarks' on Konark temple, gets bail

Odisha-based journalist Abhijit Iyer Mitra, arrested Thursday by the state police here for allegedly making derogatory remarks on the Sun Temple, Konark, was granted bail by a Delhi court which directed him to join the probe.

The court granted relief to Mitra on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and one surety of the like amount on a plea moved by him, while directing him to join the investigation in the state by September 28.

Earlier today, Odisha Assembly adopted a privilege motion against Mitra for his alleged derogatory remarks.

Mitra, who is made accused in the case along with former BJD-leader Baijayant Panda, was arrested near Hazrat Nizamuddin in the national capital and was produced before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Manish Khurana, with Odisha police seeking his transit remand for three days to take him to his native state.

Odisha police told the court that Mitra "gave unpalatable and irresponsible remarks on Konark Sun Temple by uploading view on social media with an intention to outrage and to wound religious feeling which may create communal fraction."