Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today informed the Odisha Assembly that a former Raj Bhavan official, who accused Lalit Das, the son of former Odisha Governor Raghubar Das, of assaulting and humiliating him on July 7 last year, has not filed a written police complaint at the Sea Beach Police Station in Puri. Majhi had made the statement in response to a query from Biju Janata Dal (BJD) legislator Pratap Keshari Deb about Pradhan’s complaint.
Pradhan had alleged the same Lalit Das and five of his associates had beaten him physically at Raj Bhavan in Puri, Odisha, at night on July 7, 2024. It was reportedly Pradhan who was stationed at Raj Bhavan to help oversee the preparations for President Droupadi Murmu’s visit. He told his claims in which he said he was slapped, punched and kicked inside the premises of the Raj Bhavan.
When writing to the assembly, the Chief Minister, in his address, made clear that no such written complaint was made to the Sea Beach Police Station regarding the alleged torture or assault. But Majhi admitted that Pradhan did lodge an online complaint on July 12, 2024, stating the same was being looked into. Authorities are reviewing the complaint registered under the CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems).
In January, the incident caused a rage in the public that compelled the state government to order an investigation into the matter. It was directed to contain a report within 15 days. This is despite no update on the progress of the investigation. A week after the incident, Pradhan was transferred from his Raj Bhavan post to his home department.
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