Bootlegger Dies In Excise Dept Custody In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: A probe has been ordered into the death of a man, who allegedly died under mysterious circumstances while in the custody of the excise department in Odisha’s Choudwar.

According to sources, Sarat Pradhan (50) was nabbed by the Excise officers at about 4 pm on Tuesday during a raid on Mahishalanda village in Choudwar area and 80-litre illicit liquor along with a multi-utility vehicle was seized from him. His health condition seemed normal when he was taken into custody.  He had his dinner at about 8.30 pm and later complained of chest pain. He was rushed to a hospital in Choudwar and then shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack at about 10.45 pm. Pradhan passed away at about 11.40 pm. “He suffered a cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment,” Cuttack excise superintendent Debendra Patel told TOI.

Sarat’s brother Bharat Pradhan, however, alleged that the the excise officials mercilessly beat him to death in custody. “There were injury marks all over his body,” he said while claiming that his brother had no health issues.

Meanwhile, an Excise officer said that a case of unnatural death has been registered and an investigation is being carried out as per the guidelines of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).