Bhubaneswar: Six days after being arrested over the brutal assault on Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo, BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan was granted bail by a court in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.
Pradhan was granted bail by the Khurda District and Session Court on a bail bond of Rs 30,000 and personal surety by a bailer.
The BJP leader had earlier surrendered before the police at the office of the Bhubaneswar DCP on July 3, after which he was arrested by the police. He was subsequently produced before the SDJM Court in Bhubaneswar sent to a 14-day judicial custody after his bail plea was rejected.
Police said Pradhan was arrested based on the FIR lodged by the senior OAS officer, the statement of the complainant, and preliminary evidence gathered during the investigation. A number of serious charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) had been invoked against him.
These include Sections 121(1), 121(2), 132, 189(2), 190, 3(5), 304/333, 351(2), 54/61(2), and 62 of the BNS, which relate to offenses such as assault on public servants, obstructing government work, and causing grievous hurt.
With the Court granting bail, Pradhan is likely to be released from jail, pending further investigation and legal proceedings.
Police have arrested altogether six persons, including Pradhan, in connection with the case. While Pradhan was granted bail today, the hearing of the bail petition of the other five accused is scheduled to be held on July 15.
The assault on Ratnakar Sahoo reportedly took place inside the BMC headquarters in Bhubaneswar during a grievance redressal meeting, when a group of miscreants allegedly dragged, kicked and punched him.
The arrest of Pradhan was one of the major demands made by the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) Association, which had launched a cease work protest after the attack on the senior officer.
