No one is above law: Minister on nephew’s arrest

Berhampur: A day after his nephew was arrested in connection with the death of a BCA student, state commerce and transport minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena said on Monday that no one is above the law.

“I have asked the police to conduct an impartial probe and take action against anyone found involved,” the minister said, adding that the police examined the accused’s mobile phone and laptop before making the arrest.“Police are working independently in our govt. Whoever is accused will be arrested. No one is above the law,” the minister said.On Sunday, Biswajit Jena (24) was arrested for allegedly abetting the suicide of the 20-year-old student, who was found dead in the hostel of a private engineering college in Golanthara near Berhampur on Saturday.

Biswajit had also graduated from the same college recently and he was the victim’s boyfriend, police said. He was arrested following a complaint lodged by the victim’s uncle.Calling it a sensitive matter, the minister said that dragging his name into the case and politicising it was ‘unwise’.Prior to the arrest, several BJD leaders had questioned the police for not acting earlier, despite the victim’s family naming the accused in the FIR. “Police might not arrest him because he is the minister’s nephew,” former minister and BJD leader Srikant Sahu had alleged.Hitting back, Bibhuti said that during the BJD rule several ministers, including Sahu, were implicated in serious cases but no action was taken. “That is the difference between the BJP and BJD govts,” he said.