Bhubaneswar: The controversy over the alleged assault on Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo intensified on Tuesday with a ‘Swachh Sathi’ and BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan making several allegations.
A day after the senior OAS officer was dragged, kicked and punched by six men at BMC office, BJP’s Jagannath Pradhan alleged that Sahoo had misbehaved with a female sanitation worker – Swachh Sathi.
Pradhan said he had called up the BMC official after receiving a complaint from the sanitation worker from Ward No. 34, accusing Sahoo of having misbehaved with her and putting undue pressure over her participation political activities.
The officer had spoken harshly to the woman and questioned her for joining a BJP rally, Pradhan claimed.
The BJP leader said when he asked Sahoo as to why he had allegedly humiliated the sanitation worker, the officer responded rudely, and sought to know, “Who are you to ask me?”
Following this, Pradhan reportedly posted on social media, saying, “Clapping needs two hands,” implying that allegation in the matter is not one-sided.
Pradhan also claimed that he had already raised this matter with the BMC Commissioner earlier.
The female worker has since lodged a formal complaint at the Kharavela Nagar police station in this connection.
Meanwhile, Rebati Raut, Swachh Saathi from Ward No. 34, has brought serious allegations against Sahoo. She alleged that she was subjected to intimidation and threats of job termination for mobilising 60–70 people to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally held in the city recently.
She further alleged that Sahoo, in collusion with her local corporator and husband, had warned her that participating in BJP activities could cost her the job.
She further added that after she raised the issue with BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan, the latter called the BMC officer, which reportedly led to a heated exchange.
Refuting the allegations made by the woman and Pradhan, Sahoo said the two are making baseless and fabricated claims.
Stressing that he was assaulted in the office while performing his duties, the senior officer said these allegations are an attempt to divert attention. He expressed confidence that the law will take its course and move in the right direction.
Sahoo also claimed that all ranks of staff—from senior officers to ground-level employees—have supported his version of events.
Based on a complaint lodged by the officer, police have already arrested three persons in connection with the assault, while the administration is continuing its probe into the full sequence of events.
