Bhubaneswar: Odia film producer Sanjay Nayak (Tutu) has apologized amid allegations that he slapped a woman journalist in the Odisha capital here today.

The police have registered a case against Nayak as per the complaint lodged by the woman journalist.

“The concerned journalist is like my daughter. I have known her since last several days. She had visited my house quite a few times. If she has been hurt by any of my behaviour, then I tender my apology,” Nayak said in a statement.

The film producer further clarified that the female scribe was standing in front of the main gate of Sriya-Swati Talkies in the afternoon. “I just patted her and asked her to make way for me. I also exchanged pleasantries with her,” Nayak said.

Victim Debasmita Rout, a reporter of ETV Bharat, had lodged a complaint with Kharvelnagar police station in the city here.

As per the complaint, the incident took place while Rout was covering some issues at Sriya-Swati Talkies here around 12.50 pm in the afternoon.

Producer Tutu Nayak allegedly slapped the female journalist without any provocation.

“Film producer Tutu Nayak slapped me on my face without any reason and hurled abuses at me. It happened suddenly and I dropped my boom and mobile phone on the ground. He again hit me on my back while I was picking up my boom and mobile from the ground,” said the victim in her complaint.

Basing upon the complaint, the police registered a case against the film producer under Sections 342, 323, 294 and 354 of the IPC. They have also launched a probe into the incident by examining the CCTV footage.