An official at Odisha’s Raj Bhavan has accused Governor Raghubar Das’s son of assault, alleging he was attacked after a dispute over transportation arrangements, reports The Indian Express.
Baikuntha Pradhan, 47, an Assistant Section Officer in the Household Section of the Governor’s Secretariat at Raj Bhavan, said Lalit Kumar Das and five others assaulted him on the night of July 7 at the Puri premises. Pradhan was overseeing preparations for the visit of President Droupadi Murmu.
According to Pradhan, he attempted to avoid confrontation by fleeing the room and taking refuge behind an annexe. However, he alleged that Kumar’s security personnel found and forcibly brought him back, using a lift.
“Security personnel and bystanders witnessed the incident. They slapped, punched, and kicked me, targeting my face and body. They also twisted my left ankle,” Pradhan claimed. “Throughout the ordeal, Kumar threatened that if they killed me, no one could save me.”
Pradhan said he reported the incident verbally to the Governor’s principal secretary at 4:30 p.m. on July 8 and subsequently sent a written complaint on July 10.
Speaking to the media on Friday in Bhubaneshwar, his wife Sayoj Pradhan demanded legal action on the alleged attack on her husband.
She further said that on July 11, she went to the Sea Beach Police Station to file a complaint which was allegedly not accepted. She added that she had to mail the complaint to the police.
“My husband was deployed for the President’s duty, not to serve the Governor’s son,” Sayoj told reporters. She added that Pradhan was admitted to Puri district headquarters hospital on Thursday.
However, there is no official confirmation either from the Raj Bhavan or police regarding the incident.