A day after registered a case against Sambalpur MLA Jayanrayan Mishra over the assault case, statements of DSP Josabanta Senapati and other cops were recorded by Dhanupali police.

Efforts are underway to collect video footage to ascertain the cause resulting in the ugly spat.  Sources said though police had initially decided to underplay the entire incident, the case was registered only after photographs of the incident were highlighted by various media houses.

Meanwhile, Mishra expressed surprise at the move of the police and said he learnt about the case only from the newspapers. He thanked the SP (in-charge) Dilip Kumar Deo for smooth passage of the Hanuman Jayanti procession.

The Hanuman Jayanti celebration had turned ugly here on Sunday after Mishra reportedly assaulted Jharsuguda SP Dilip Kumar Deo and slapped a DSP on duty after the police refused movement of through a Muslim dominated area.