Laxmidutta Pradhan Murder Case: Two BJP Leaders Move HC For Anticipatory Bail

Cuttack: Senior BJP leaders Golak Mohapatra and Bhrugu Buxipatra, who were served notice by the Chhatrapur police to appear on February 7 and 9 respectively in connection with the murder of BJD councillor Laxmidutta Pradhan, have moved the Orissa High Court for anticipatory bail.

Mahapatra’s counsel Parthasarathi Swain had met Chhatrapur SDPO Ramesh Chandra Sethi on Thursday and handed him a medical certificate along with the application stating that his client is suffering from spondylitis and has been advised one-month rest by the doctor.

Notably, the Chhatrapur police on January 29 had asked these two BJP leaders to appear at the police station.

Reacting to the notice, Mahapatra told the media that the police had served the notice on him at the behest of the state government.

“The state government has become vindictive as the CBI has summoned two senior BJD leaders Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and Arun Sahu for interrogation in connection with the Seashore chit fund scam. Why the police, that had called me after the incident and recorded my statement, has again sent a notice to me after one and half years?” Mahapatra questioned.

Notably, the incident had taken place in the broad daylight on September 16, 2017, when a group of men dragged Pradhan (35), the councillor of ward no-6, out of his house in Chhatrapur and attacked him with sharp weapons. Pradhan was taken to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur where he succumbed to injuries.

According to police, Pradhan was an accused in the murder case of Sakuru Behera, a CPI supporter, at Chhatrapur on July 23, 2014.