Rourkela circuit house stay of adult film star sparks police inquiry

An old video of an adult film star claiming she received special treatment during a stay at the Rourkela circuit house has triggered a police inquiry, barely a month after the state-run facility was raided in a separate arms case.

Investigating officers have questioned at least three people, including the son of a retired SP-rank officer, over how accommodation was arranged for the actor on December 1 last year during her visit to the city. All three were allowed to leave after questioning.

"The investigation is on. We are probing under what circumstances the booking was done, who recommended it, and whether due process was followed," a police officer said.

In the nearly five-minute video, the actor, who has more than 300,000 Instagram followers, narrates her journey from Jharsuguda airport to the circuit house. At the airport, she is heard saying in Hindi that the "owner/CEO of the company" was coming to receive her in his Audi, without naming anyone.

Pointing to the circuit house, she says she is staying there and that she never received such treatment even during her time in a government job, adding that only top officers get to stay at the facility. She also mentions a meeting with the SP and his son, and says she has come for a project.

While the actor claimed in the video that she was in Rourkela for a shooting assignment she described as the "biggest project of my life", police sources said they are verifying the claim.

The probe has also found that a local travel operator rented out a luxury vehicle at the demand of a senior official of a private firm in Rourkela, in which the actor travelled.

Rourkela Superintendent of Police Nitesh Wadhwani did not respond to calls and messages seeking comment.

Senior government officers, ministers, MLAs, accredited journalists and other dignitaries are entitled to stay at the circuit house with approval from the authorities concerned.

Police have sought a detailed report from the Panposh sub-collector's office on the protocol for booking accommodation, records of the past few months, people hosted there and other relevant information. Panposh sub-collector Chandra Kanta Mallick said he has no information about any actor or film star staying at the circuit house.

DIG, western range, Brijesh Rai said some people had been interrogated and that the investigation was focused on the circumstances of the accommodation and whether due process was followed. No case has been registered in the matter yet.

The circuit house, inaugurated in November last year by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, has been embroiled in controversy before. Last month, police raided the premises and arrested seven persons with arms. Among those arrested was youth BJP leader Prakash Paswan, 35, a representative of Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram, who was picked up in Bihar for allegedly sheltering armed criminals at the government facility. He was suspended by the BJP after the incident.