BJP’s MLA candidate Prasanta Jagadev admitted to SCB Hospital in Cuttack

Cuttack: Chilika MLA and BJP’s Khordha MLA candidate Prasanta Jagadev, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody for allegedly damaging an EVM at a polling booth, was admitted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital here.

According to reports, Jagadev’s health deteriorated while being in jail, leading to his admission to the hospital. He was receiving treatment in the ICU of the medicine ward.

As per Jagadev’s lawyer, he was hospitalized due to health issues related to spinal cord. He is also severely diabetic, the lawyer said.

Jagadev was apprehended for allegedly damaging an EVM at a polling booth in Begunia Assembly Constituency in Khordha district during the third phase of the twin polls in Odisha on Saturday. Jagadev had gone to the booth along with his wife to cast vote, during which he allegedly vandalized the machine.

On the basis of a complaint lodged by the concerned Presiding Officer, police detained Jagadev for questioning and later arrested him. A case was registered against him under Sections 452, 448, 294, 354, 323, 332, 427, 171(c), 506 (i), 354 and 34 of the IPC.

However, BJP’s Bhubaneswar MP candidate Aparajita Sarangi shared the CCTV footage of the incident at the polling booth, claiming that Jagadev was innocent. She also alleged that the BJD hatched a conspiracy against Jagadev to impact his popularity.

Notably, Jagadev was elected to Odisha Assembly from Chilika seat on a BJD ticket in 2019. He was expelled from the ruling party for his alleged unruly behaviour. He later joined the BJP and got the ticket to fight the 2024 Assembly polls from Khurda seat.