Bhubaneswar: The Khordha District and Sessions Judge Court today granted bail to Odisha BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan, who was arrested in the case of assault on Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo.

Pradhan was granted bail with a bail bond of Rs 30,000 and personal surety by a bailer.

On July 3, Pradhan surrendered before the Commissionerate Police at the Bhubaneswar DCP office. Pradhan has been booked under Sections 333/132/121(1)/121(2) /351(2) /62/304/54/61 (2)/189(2)/190/3(5) of BNS. Apart from Pradhan, five others were arrested in the case.

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.”

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

The assault on Ratnakar Sahoo reportedly occurred inside the BMC office during a grievance redressal meeting, when a group of miscreants allegedly attacked the official.