3 min readBhubaneswarJul 15, 2024 08:52 PM IST
First published on: Jul 13, 2024 at 08:59 PM IST
Odisha governor Raghubar Das Saturday met the Raj Bhavan staffer who has accused his son of assault for not sending luxury cars to pick him up from the Puri railway station. “He listened to us in detail and assured justice soon. We will wait before taking further steps,” Sayoj, the wife of Raj Bhavan employee Baikuntha Pradhan, said.
Pradhan (47) is posted as the Assistant Section Officer, Household Section, Governor’s Secretariat, Raj Bhavan. He has alleged that Das’s son Lalit Kumar and five others slapped, punched, and kicked him on the night of July 7 on the Raj Bhavan premises in Puri, where he was posted to supervise the preparation for President Droupadi Murmu’s visit.
Pradhan, who submitted a written complaint to the Governor’s principal secretary on July 10, did not speak to the media citing “government regulations”. He also submitted a police complaint on July 11, though an FIR has not been filed so far. Raj Bhavan is yet to comment on the allegations.
Sayoj said the governor’s personal cook, a co-accused in the police complaint, begged Pradhan for forgiveness “by touching his feet” in front of Das.
Sayoj, wife of Raj Bhavan official Baikuntha Pradhan, shows his complaint Friday
Since the other accused, including Kumar, were not present in the Raj Bhavan, Das assured Pradhan they would be summoned to take further action, she said.
“We will definitely wait for a few days given his assurance. But we will not withdraw the police complaint until we get justice,” she said.
Before meeting Das, Pradhan and his wife also met Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at the state secretariat, who suggested they meet the Governor.
When contacted, a senior police officer in Puri said though they have received the complaint, they are awaiting instructions from their superiors since the matter involves the Raj Bhavan.
The issue also snowballed into a political row, with senior Congress leader Taraprasad Bahinipati demanding Kumar’s arrest. Members of the NSUI and youth Congress staged protests outside the Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar.
BJD MLA Pratap Deb questioned the police inaction on the complaint, while his party colleagues said the attack on Pradhan by a “non-Odia” was an assault on “Odia asmita (pride)”.
BJP’s Dilip Mallick said the law is equal for all and the complaint will be examined in detail.
Odisha Governor Raghubar Das. (Photo: Raghubar Das/ X) 
Sayoj, wife of Raj Bhavan official Baikuntha Pradhan, shows his complaint Friday
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