Abhijit  Iyer seeks pardon

Delhi-based journalist Abhijit Iyer Mitra’s letter, requesting release from jail, was forwarded to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Chief Secretary AP Padhi by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Prisons Monday.

Iyer is now lodged in Jharpada jail after his arrest. Sources said, Iyer had written the letter to the CM expressing his grief over his comments and requested the CM to free him.

In his letter November 20, which was submitted 13 days later Monday, Iyer requested for his release from jail as the committee of the Assembly had pardoned him after accepting his unconditional apology for his derogatory remarks on Odisha.

After his first appearance before the Assembly Committee October 23, police arrested Iyer on the same day and produced him before the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court in Bhubaneswar, which remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days till November 5.

A day back, he had been admitted to Bhubaneswar Capital Hospital after he complained of being unwell.