Missing Ex-Odisha MLA Saroj Padhi Traced

Bhubaneswar: Former Aska MLA Saroj Padhi, who had been missing since May 12, was rescued by Commissionerate Police from Berhampur on Tuesday. He is being brought to Bhubaneswar, IIC of Capital police station Girija Sankar Chakrabarty informed.

According to police sources, he had arrived in Berhampur from Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadi about a day ago.

The former MLA apparently lost his phone during his visit to Rameshwaram, following which he was unable to contact his family back home.

His son Sangeet Padhi, who had earlier lodged a complaint with Capital Police suspecting that his father had been kidnapped, had informed about receiving a call from his father from an unknown number around 9.30 pm on May 14, two days from he went missing. Asking them not to worry about him, Padhi had said that he was at Rameswaram and would return home in a couple of days.

Also Read: Phone Call Deepens Mystery Surrounding Odisha Ex-MLA Saroj Padhi’s Sudden Disappearance

Notably, the former MLA went missing after he left his apartment at Unit VI in Bhubaneswar around 7 am on May 12 after getting a phone call.

Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh had earlier told the media that he left his wallet, phone and other essential items before leaving the house. “A massive search has been launched to trace Padhi and all police stations across Odisha have been alerted. Railway stations, bus terminuses and airports among other places are being searched, and police are in constant touch with his family members,” he added.

Padhi was elected to the Aska Assembly constituency in 2004.