Bhubaneswar, July 4(Newshub Desk): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jagannath Pradhan has been remanded to 14-day judicial custody following his surrender in connection with the assault case involving Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo.
The incident, which occurred on June 30, saw Sahoo allegedly attacked by a group of miscreants. Citing the FIR and victim testimony, police identified Pradhan as a key accused.
After his bail plea was rejected, the BJP leader was taken into custody and underwent a medical examination at Capital Hospital.
Before his arrest, Pradhan dismissed the allegations as a “politically motivated conspiracy,” but said he was willing to cooperate with the law.
His arrest spurred BJP supporters to block Vani Vihar Square, causing traffic snarls along the national highway.
In a significant administrative development, the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) Association — which had launched a mass leave protest in response to the assault — called off their agitation after Pradhan’s arrest.
The move brings relief to a state machinery that had been grappling with service disruptions.
With six arrests made so far, including Pradhan, investigations are ongoing, and the episode has underscored rising tensions between political actors and the administrative establishment.
