Berhampur, March 23: District police today registered a new case against former Congress MLA from Sanakhemundi Ramesh Jena for threatening the witness in the murder of Rabi Narayan Behera alias Chicken Rabi.

Jena has been arrested and lodged in jail in connection to a string of criminal cases.

Chicken Rabi, a notorious criminal, was shot dead at Dhipa Sahi near Lanjipalli under Baidyanathpur police station on January1, 2010. After his release from jail, he was allegedly involved in the tender fixing with the support of BJD leaders.

Police arrested Jena in Visakhapatnam in May 2010 when he was an MLA. The police had chargesheeted as many as 13 persons, including Jena, in the Chicken Rabi murder case. However, Jena had alleged earlier that he had been implicated in the case and it was a political conspiracy hatched by a BJD minister.

In another development, police today produced Jena in the court of judicial magistrate first class, Aska, for his involvement in a case related to tender-fixing.

The Aska police today prayed for 15 days remand to facilitate the interrogation of Jena. However, in the absence of the magistrate, Jena was first sent to Aska sub-jail and from there to Berhampur circle jail.

Talking to reporters outside the court, Jena said he was victim of political vendetta. "I have full faith in judiciary. I don't care how many false cases the government is filing against me," said.

Crime branch police also intends to interrogate Jena in connection with the murder of former sarpanch of Moulabhanja Srinivas Rath, 42, on March 9, 2012, near Ghodahada dam square at Digapahandi in Ganjam district.

A few months after the murder, the police had arrested two accused, including Pradip Sethi of Padmanavpur and Kalia Sahu of Gosaninuagaon. During interrogation, both the accused had named Jena as the chief conspirator, deputy superintendent of police N.K. Panda said.

Shot dead

One person was shot dead by his neighbour at Kalangi panchayat under Gangapur police station in Ganjam district over a petty issue on Tuesday. Police said that the deceased Sudam was shot dead by his neighbour Titu Malick after both of them had an argument over their cows. Later, Titu fired at Sudam from a country-made pistol, killing the latter. Police have arrested Titu.