BJP MLA Nabin Kumar Jain booked for firing blanks during Ram Navami procession in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: Police on Saturday booked BJP MLA Nabin Kumar Jain for allegedly firing blanks during Ram Navami procession in Titlagarh town of Balangir district.

According to the police, the Titlagarh MLA fired three rounds from his licensed pistol in a celebratory mood during the procession in the evening where hundreds of people, including BJP supporters, took part. Police action followed after a video surfaced showing the MLA firing from his 0.32 bore pistol. Balangir SP Abilash G rushed to Titlagarh after the video surfaced.

"We have registered a case under Section 125 of BNS and Section 25 of the Arms Act for possession of the firearm and rashly behaving in public. The weapon has also been seized," said the SP.

Police have also summoned the personal security officer (PSO) of the MLA for allegedly assisting him on how to operate the pistol.

"The PSO helped him handle the gun and it is clearly visible in the video as well," a senior police officer said. The PSO was later suspended.



After the incident, Jain, speaking to the local media, said it was a playful act. "Everybody was having fun and it was a toy pistol and not a firearm," the legislator told the media. Jain had defeated BJD's Tukuni Sahu, a two-time MLA, in the 2024 assembly election.