Bhubaneswar, April 12: Artha Tatwa group chief Pradeep Sethy, an accused in money laundering case, has allegedly given a telephonic interview to a vernacular news channel from a local court premises where he was produced in connection with his case.

Police today ordered a probe into the incident, which exposed the leniency of cops escorting under-trial prisoners - second time in a row. In January, former BJD MLA Subarna Naik, an accused in the money laundering case, kicked up a similar controversy after he had been found talking on a cellphone for more than an hour on the court premises. At that time, the police had suspended havildar Dibakar Sahu, who was escorting the former MLA. Even self-styled spiritual leader Santosh Raula aka Sarathi baba had stirred up a controversy by giving an interview to a local channel from Choudwar Jail.

Sethy gave the telephonic interview for around five minutes.

Deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi said: "We have received a complaint in this regard and will make an inquiry to ascertain whether he used the mobile phone for the interview within the court premises or in the jail," said Bhoi.

In another development, the BJP today raised its voice against Sethy. While coming out of the court yesterday, Sethy had said the issue of gifting an SUV to technical education minister Sanjay Das Burma was the biggest joke of the year.

Both the Congress and the BJP have been demanding Das Burma's resignation on the issue. On March 17, former Congress MLA Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra had alleged that one SUV purchased by Sethy was with Das Burma. Mohapatra had also produced an affidavit submitted by the CBI before Orissa High Court to substantiate his claim. Few days later, Sethy had also admitted of lending some vehicles to political people for the purpose of campaigning in the last general elections.

"An investigation should be done to find out the persons, who have met Sethy while he was in jail and court - which can prove that whether the minister has any role in influencing change of views of Sethy," said BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma.