Bhubaneswar: Three days after the assault on Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jagannath Pradhan, who has been allegedly the prime accused in the case, surrendered before the Commissionerate Police today. He was subsequently arrested in connection with the incident.

Pradhan, who had unsuccessfully contested from the Bhubaneswar (Central) Assembly constituency on a BJP ticket in the 2024 General Elections, was mentioned in the FIR filed by Sahoo at the Kharvelnagar Police Station.

Before surrendering, Pradhan told mediapersons, “I have publicly condemned the attack and have no involvement in the assault on the BMC official. Efforts are being made to malign my image and defame the State Government.”

He added, “The ongoing strike by the OAS Association could impact flood relief operations, as well as key events like the Bahuda Yatra and Suna Besha. If my arrest helps resolve the situation, I am ready to fully cooperate with the investigation.”

Pradhan, accompanied by his supporters, reached the Bhubaneswar DCP office this evening that was kept in a tight security. Subsequently, his supporters staged a dharna at the DCP office premises. They later protested on the road connecting Vani Vihar to Master Canteen.

Meanwhile, Pradhan was booked under Section 333/132/121(1)/121(2) /351(2) /62/304/54/61 (2)/189(2)/190/3(5) of BNS. Subsequently, he was taken to the Capital Hospital for medical examination.

With today's arrest of Pradhan, the total number of persons arrested in the case rose to six.

The arrest of Jagannath Pradhan was one of the key demands made by the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) Association following the attack on the senior civic official.

Earlier, the Commissionerate Police had arrested five others in connection with the case — Sanjeev Mishra, Sachikanta Swain, Jeevan Rout, Rashmi Mahapatra, and Debasish Pradhan.

Following the arrests, the Odisha BJP unit suspended five party members for their alleged involvement in the assault. Those suspended include Corporator Aparup Narayan Rout alias Jeevan Rout, Rashmi Ranjan Mahapatra, Debasish Pradhan, Sachikanta Swain, and Sanjeev Mishra.