BJD leader Manmath Routray, who contested the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Bhubaneswar, lodged two separate police complaints against Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at the Capital Police Station in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, officials said.
The action comes while Routray himself is facing a case for allegedly making defamatory remarks against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chief Minister.
The police have confirmed receiving Routray’s complaints but noted that no case has yet been registered against CM Majhi, who also holds the home portfolio.
The ruling BJP claimed that the BJD leader’s action stemmed from fear that he would have to go to jail for making adverse comments against the PM and the CM.
Routray’s complaints target statements allegedly made by Majhi on two separate occasions – one pertains to a statement attributed to Majhi in February 2025, while the other relates to comments allegedly made during campaigning for the recent Nuapada bypoll.
ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ ମୋହନ ଚରଣ ମାଝୀଙ୍କ ନାଁରେ ଥାନାରେ ଲିଖିତ ଅଭିଯୋଗ କଲା ବିଜୁ ଜନତା ଦଳର ଏକ ପ୍ରତିନିଧିମଣ୍ଡଳୀ।
ସର୍ବସାଧାରଣରେ ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଦେଇଥିବା ଅପମାନଜନକ ତଥା ଜାତିଆଣ ମନ୍ତବ୍ୟ ନେଇ ଅଭିଯୋଗ କରିଛି ଦଳ।
ସାମ୍ବିଧାନିକ ପଦବୀରେ ଥିବା ଜଣେ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଙ୍କର ଏଭଳି ଅରୁଚିକର ମନ୍ତବ୍ୟ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଲୋକଙ୍କ ଭାବନାକୁ ଗଭୀର ଆଘାତ… pic.twitter.com/THZt4OvRsJ
— Biju Janata Dal (@bjd_odisha) December 2, 2025
Routray , in the first complaint, accused the CM of making “racially derogatory” remarks about tribal women.
“He (CM) stated that girls in his own community in Keonjhar possessed dark skin and, as a result, he had to search for a bride in Mayurbhanj due to his preference for marrying a fair-skinned girl. This statement explicitly discriminates on the basis of skin colour and is deeply offensive,” Routray wrote in the complaint.
The ruling BJP has dismissed Routray’s actions, claiming they are driven by “frustration and fear” over his own legal troubles.
Routray claimed this statement from a constitutional office holder constitutes racial discrimination and perpetuates harmful stereotypes.
“Despite coming from an underprivileged community himself, his public comment about the skin complexion of girls perpetuates harmful stereotypes,” he alleged, seeking legal action.
The second complaint alleges that Majhi used an “obscene slang word” during a public meeting for the recent Nuapada bypoll.
“The utterance of this word in any context in a public place constitutes a criminal offence. The same speech was recorded and circulated on social media. It was a deliberate act and was consciously circulated to demean a community which has contributed to the heritage of our country,” he claimed.
Routray further claimed the remark was recorded, circulated on social media, and was a deliberate act to demean a community, specifically alleging it insulted the ancient Pandya dynasty of Tamil Nadu and urged the police to initiate appropriate legal action.
The Chief Minister’s Office has not reacted to the complaints.
On November 28, a case was registered against Routray at the cyber police station under various sections of the BNS and the Information Technology Act based on a complaint by BJP leader Jayant Kumar Jena.
Routray is accused of making defamatory comments against the PM and the CM during the Nuapada bypoll campaign.
Odisha BJP spokesperson Manoj Mohapatra, in a video message, said, “Routray is completely frustrated and fears going to jail for making adverse comments against the PM and the CM. Our sources say that he (Routray) has been cautioned by BJD president Naveen Patnaik for making such a comment.”
“Chief Minister Majhi stands tall, and Routray has been making futile attempts against him,” Mohapatra said.
