Puri Police Arrests YouTuber From West Bengal Who Flew Drone Over Lord Jagannath Temple

Puri : The Singhadwara Police, Puri, has arrested Animesh Chakraborty, the person who flew a drone illegally in the No Flying Zone over the Lord Jagannath temple and was evading arrest for the last few days. ANimesh had posted the pictures of temle take using the Drone in social media and had also used the Odisha Police name in the video. He was arrested by the Puri Police from Barrackpore area of Kolkata. A special team led by City DSP K K Hariprasad had kept an eye on Chakraborty’s movements over the last five days before nabbing him from Barrackpore on Wednesday.

According to a press release by Puri Police, “A video footage of Shree Mandir, Puri which was circulated by a You Tuber in the Social Media, allegedly in violations of Law. Singhdwar Police conducted an enquiry and subsequent above mentioned case was registered in Singhdwar Police Station.”

“During the course of investigation, it was ascertained that, one Animesh Chakrabarty of Guma, Amdonga, North 24 Pragana, West Bengal had flown drone over Shree Mandir, Puri and he has also uploaded the said video in his youtube channel unified for commercial purpose. During investigation of the case, prima fade and sufficient information was gathered against accused Animesh Chakrabarty(30), S/O-Khokan Chakrabarty, At-Rabindra Pally, Guma, PS-Ashok Nagar, Dist-North 24 Pragana, West Bengal.”

Multiple raids were conducted to apprehend the accused person but accused kept evading arrest. Police also obtained NBW against the accused person from the Court of the JMFC, Puri. Taking into account the sensitivity and gravity of the case, for the purpose of expediting the investigation and in order to execute the NBW, a SIT was constituted headed by Sri K. K. Hariprasad, OPS, DSP City Puri. On getting intelligence inputs, that accused was changing his location frequently, the team did raid in multiple states including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Finally, the accused Animesh Chakrabarty was apprehended on 18th January under Nimta Police jurisdiction, West Bengal. After producing the accused Animesh Chakrabarty before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Barrackpur, Transit remand report has been obtained and accordingly he has been produced before the JMFC Court, Puri.

The used drone has also been seized and the accused is being held liable under 468/420/511 IPC/10(2) Aircraft Act,1934 and Sec.30(A)4(c) Shree Jagannath Temple Act, 1954.

1. He has violated DGCA drone rules related to usage of the drone that makes him liable under 10(2) Aircraft Act,1934.
2. He has violated guidelines of Shree Jagannath Temple Act, 1954, that makes him liable under Sec.30(A)4(c) Shree Jagannath Temple Act, 1954.
3. He has used Odisha Police Logo without obtaining due permission that makes him liable under section 468 IPC
4. He has tried to sell the unauthorised footage of Sri Jagannath Temple as authentic and genuine, that makes him liable under section 420/511 IPC.