BJD MLA Pradeep Maharathy Sent To Jharpada Jail, Then Hospital

Bhubaneswar: Senior BJD leader and sitting MLA from Pipili, Pradeep Maharathy, was sent to Jharpada Jail on Monday night and later to a hospital because of a health condition. Pipili police had earlier arrested him for attacking the poll flying squad inside his farmhouse on Sunday night.

After his arrest he had been sent for medical examination at the Community Health Centre in Pipili around 3.25pm. After the test, he was produced in the court of the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) in Pipili at 4.15pm. But the court refused to take up the hearing saying the place where the incident took place does not fall under its jurisdiction and advised the police to produce him in the court of the additional district judge-III (Special) in Bhubaneswar.

As the counsel of Maharathy informed court about his client being unwell, the court directed the police to conduct another medical test at the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar.

Acting on the directive, the police took him to the Capital Hospital and later produced him in the ADJ court in the evening.

The court rejected his bail plea and remanded him in Jharpada Jail on the basis of the health report from the Capital Hospital authorities. Though the court had said that Maharathy will undergo treatment at the jail hospital, it, however, said that if necessary, he can undergo treatment in other hospitals.

As Maharathy’s condition deteriorated late at night, the police took him from jail and admitted him to the Capital Hospital.

Security has been beefed up at the hospital premises to ward off any untoward incident, the police said.