Bhubaneswar, July 20: Focus Plus TV Founder Sudhanshu Rout has landed in controversy following allegations that false information was circulated against Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond on social media.

The Capital Police on Sunday raided the Focus Plus office located in Baramunda and sealed the premises. Several documents were reportedly seized during the search operation.

The development follows a complaint lodged by Ashish Kumar Bhoi, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Minister’s office, at Capital Police Station over a viral video statement made by Sudhanshu Raut.

According to the complaint, Sudhanshu, while attending a programme organized by an organization at a hotel in Bapuji Nagar on the 12th, alleged that Minister Nityananda Gond had contacted him through Focus Plus reporter Pritiranjan Das and offered money to stop reporting on alleged irregularities in textbooks.

The video of the statement later went viral on social media, following which the complaint was filed. Police registered a case and began an investigation. The statement of reporter Pritiranjan Das was also recorded as part of the probe.

Capital Police Station IIC Radhakanta Sahu said an investigation was underway after a complaint regarding the alleged spread of false information was received. He stated that Sudhanshu Raut had not cooperated with the investigation and had gone absconding.

Police subsequently conducted a raid at the Focus Plus office, seized documents, and sealed the premises as part of the ongoing investigation.