Congress MLA Naba Kishore Das was suspended for seven days on Tuesday for watching porn in the Odisha assembly on Monday, The Times of India reported. Odisha Assembly Speaker Niranjan Pujari ordered the suspension after local television channel captured him looking at the objectionable material on his mobile phone during question hour.

However Das, who represents Jharsuguda district, said, “While trying to open my own social media page, I accidentally touched YouTube. I scrolled down unwittingly when the TV camera shot me.”

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Das will explain what happened in a petition before the speaker, who has sent the matter to the ethics committee for further investigation. “I am unnecessarily being defamed,” he said.

According to his fellow party members, they have yet to verify the facts.

The incident has created a stir in the assembly, with Biju Janata Dal MLA Pramila Mallik demanding action against Das. “I have requested the speaker to order an immediate inquiry and take action against the erring MLA,” she said.