13 years after cop assault, trial starts against BJD MP

CUTTACK: A special court in Cuttack started trial on Friday against BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab for assaulting a cop on duty in Odisha 13 years back.
Court of judicial magistrate first class Deepankar Bal, dealing with cases against MPs and MLAs, had framed charges against Mahtab on March 21 under sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.The judge had issued summons to witnesses to record evidence, paving the way for the start of the trial.