Bhubaneswar, July 1: Police today seized the car of actor Tatwa Prakash Satpathy aka Pappu Pom Pom, who was arrested yesterday from Puri on charges of promoting casting couch and sexually harassing a minor girl.

The investigating cops said it was the same car, in which the 38-year-old actor had allegedly molested the minor victim.

The girl alleged that she had come in contact with the comedian in early 2014. The actor lured her into the film industry. The victim also alleged that the actor had tried to touch her inappropriately in a running car in November 2014.

The actor was sent to Jharapada jail late last evening after the court rejected his bail plea.

Jail authorities said the health condition of the actor, who was served food, according to the jail manual, was good.

"No privilege would be extended to the actor and food from outside will not be allowed. The relatives and friends of the accused will not be allowed to meet him without proper verification," said a jail official.

On Monday, the police registered a case against Pappu and his associate Pradipta Kumar Swain under sections 354-A (sexual harassment) 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult a woman) and 34 (crime done by more than one person) of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. However, the actor went underground after the case had been registered.

On Wednesday, the BJD expelled the actor, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2014 general elections from the Champua constituency. The ruling party today decided to examine the credential of actors intending to join it.

"The background of the actors willing to join the party would be thoroughly investigated," said spokesperson for the BJD Amar Satpathy.

Prior to this, women's organisations and activists of both the BJP and the Congress had accused the state government of protecting Pappu as he belonged to the ruling party.

On the other hand, the state crime branch's economic offences wing, inquiring into the allegations of money laundering by Ponzi firm Oscar group, has also decided to probe Pappu's role in the scam. The comedian allegedly had close links with the Oscar group's chief Pravas Chandra Rout. It was also alleged that the actor had endorsed the Ponzi firm at a number of stage shows. Besides, he had also admitted to having borrowed Rs 2.94 lakh from Rout for his election expenses.

"A number of investors had told us that the actor had praised the Oscar group and Rout at several stage shows - which motivated them to invest in the group," said a crime branch official.