The row between Bokaro MLA Biranchi Narayan and officers of Bokaro Steel Limited over the BJP legislator allegedly beating up Ajit Kumar, BSL additional general manager, on Tuesday escalated on Wednesday with both sides filing police cases and levelling corruption charges.

Bokaro police have lodged an FIR against Narayan and several unnamed persons on the complaint of Ajit Kumar for alleged use of assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty under Section 353 of the Indian Penal Code.

The police also registered an FIR against Ajit Kumar on the complaint of Krishna Pandey, the contractor whose work under the MLA fund Ajit had objected to, under Section 378 of the IPC related to theft of cash and valuables.

“We have registered FIRs on both the complaints but any action will be taken after proper investigation,” Bokaro city DSP Gyan Ranjan said on Wednesday.

The office of Bokaro Industrial Area Development Authority Pictures by Shikhar Kumar

Ajit, in his written complaint submitted at the Bokaro City police station on Tuesday night, alleged that the MLA “not only abused and scolded” him during the anti encroachment drive on Tuesday but also “hit me on my face several times with his fist due to which I suffered injuries in my right eye leading to blurred vision”.

The MLA then instructed his supporters to beat him up, Ajit Kumar alleged, “after which they started beating me and chased me due to which I suffered injuries on head, neck, face and back”.

Ajit added that he “somehow saved himself by escaping from the site and reaching the town administration department from where I reached Bokaro General Hospital”.

A.K. Singh, president of Bokaro Steel Officers’ Association, said: “We are waiting for the police action on our complaint and will chalk out strategy depending on the police response on the FIR”.

MLA Narayan, on his part, held a media conference on Wednesday during which he iterated the charges he has levelled against Ajit Kumar — of trying to extort money from the contractor in the name of conducting an anti encroachment drive.

“As per the order of the government if an NOC (no-objection certificate) for development work is delayed for more than 15 days the NOC is considered to be granted,” Narayan said. “BSL officers in the town administration department are engaged in realising money from big and small traders alike and are even not sparing street vendors selling fruits.”