ASO Alleges Assault By Odisha Governor’s Son, Files Police Complaint In Puri

By OB Bureau On Jul 12, 2024

Bhubaneswar: An Assistant Section Officer (ASO) has filed a police complaint against Odisha Governor Raghubar Das’ son Lalit Kumar for allegedly assaulting him in Raj Bhawan at Puri on July 7.

According to police sources, the ASO of the Parliamentary Affairs Department, Baikuntha Pradhan has stated in his complaint that Lalit and five others had assaulted him in the Raj Bhawan on the night of Rath Yatra in Puri.

Pradhan mentioned that he was deputed to the Raj Bhawan to look after the arrangements for the stay of President Droupadi Murmu for two days on July 7 and 8.

While he was in his office room in the Raj Bhawan on the night of July 7, Lalit called him through the Governor’s personal cook Akash Singh to Suit number 4 at around 11.45 pm. As soon as Pradhan went to the room, Lalit and five other persons present there started assaulting him.

They slapped, kicked and threw blows at him without any provocation. Pradhan managed to escape and hid himself in another building. But two PSOs of Lalit found him and forcibly took him to the suit. This time, Lalit and others beat him up mercilessly.

Following the incident, Pradhan informed the Principal Secretary to Governor verbally. As no action was taken, he submitted a written complaint to the Principal Secretary seeking justice. Failing to get any response, Pradhan lodged a complaint at Sea Beach police station in Puri.

Speaking to the media on Friday, the ASO’s wife Sayoji Pradhan said her husband was brutally attacked by Lalit and his friends as they were upset with him for not sending luxury cars to pick him up from the Puri railway station. “Since my husband sustained injuries in the assault, I seek stern action against the accused persons,” she said.