Kataka: The Orissa High Court has lifted its earlier interim stay on the non-bailable warrant issued against popular Odia playback singer Sourin Bhatt, clearing the way for his possible arrest in an alleged sexual harassment case.
The court took the decision after the singer repeatedly failed to appear before the lower trial court despite previous directives and assurances from his counsel.
Expressing strong displeasure over the non-compliance, the High Court has now directed the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Court in Kataka to take strict legal actions to ensure Bhatt’s appearance.
The case dates back to June 2023 when a young woman from Kataka lodged a complaint against the singer at Mahila police station. The woman accused him of false promise of marriage, cheating, torture and exploitation. Following which, a case was registered under Section 376(2)(n), 294, 323, 341, 417, 493, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code.
According to the FIR, Bhatt allegedly promised to marry her and offered her opportunities to pursue a singing career, took around Rs 10 lakh from her, and failed to return the money. She initially lodged the complaint at Jagatpur police station before it was transferred to the Mahila police station.
Police conducted raids, including a visit to his residence in Kolkata on June 22.2023, but returned empty-handed. The singer then moved the high court seeking anticipatory bail in this case, which was rejected in view of the gravity and seriousness of allegations against him and absence of material to deduce the accusations were made only to tarnish his image. The single judge bench of Justice Chittaranjan Dash observed that there appeared to be prima facie evidence that Bhatt cohabited with the woman sometimes under the promise of marriage and at others under the threat to make the objectionable photographs viral. The court further noted that Bhatt did not disclose his marital status and that when the woman learned of it and refused to continue the relationship, he allegedly blackmailed her. “In such a situation the relationship even though continued for years cannot be taken to be one with the consent of the woman but under threat and compulsion,” the judge ruled in August 2023.
A look-out circular was issued against the singer by police in September that year. Two months later, the SDJM Court in Kataka issued a Non-Bailable Warrant against him as he remained absconding.
Bhatt again approached the Orissa High Court seeking relief, and the court initially stayed the warrant while directing him to surrender before the lower court by a specified date. His lawyer informed the High Court that he would appear before August 20, but he failed to do so, prompting the court to vacate the protective stay.