Bhubaneswar, April 28: Police will appoint a special public prosecutor for trial of actor-comedian Tatwa Prakash Satpathy alias Pappu Pom Pom, who was arrested on charges of promoting casting couch and sexually harassing a minor.

Sources said the trial was likely to begin next month.

"The case is serious in nature as the victim is a minor and we want to expedite the trial process. We had submitted the charge sheet in the case in January. We have also named the witnesses, mostly the family members of the victim, in the charge sheet," said a senior police officer.

On June 27, the police had registered a case against Pappu and his associate Pradipta 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 Indian Penal Code and also under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.

The police had registered a case on the basis of a complaint by a member of the child welfare committee (CWC), Khurda, that found prima-facie evidence against the actor.

Subsequently, on June 30, the police arrested Pappu and Swain from Puri. He later obtained bail from the high court in August.

The minor had accused Pappu and his associate - Pradipta Swain - of luring her with the offer of a role in an Odia film.

The girl had also accused Pappu of touching her inappropriately in a moving car.

The incident had also led to Pappu's ouster from the BJD. The actor had contested the last general election in 2014 unsuccessfully from the Champua Assembly constituency on a BJD ticket.

Drink driving

Police have penalised around 50 drunk drivers from Bhubaneswar and its outskirts in the past two days.

The drive was conducted on two major city roads - the roads connecting Jayadev Vihar with Patia and Vani Vihar Square with Rajmahal Square.

The penalty for drink driving is Rs 100, which can be increased to a maximum of Rs 500.

The police said that 40 per cent of accidents occurred in the city due to drink driving.

"Many youngsters drive motorcycles during late night hours under the influence of alcohol. Most of the times, the offenders also try to argue with the personnel on duty despite being found positive for blood alcohol component in breath analyser test," said the officer.

"We will also issue notices to the offenders who pretend that they are not carrying money to pay the fines slapped on them," he said.