Bhubaneswar, 4 July (H.S.) In a key development in the case involving the assault of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo, senior BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan was arrested on Thursday evening after voluntarily surrendering at the DCP office.

Pradhan, facing mounting criticism over the incident, presented himself before the police and expressed willingness to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation. Following his surrender, he was taken to Capital Hospital for a routine medical examination.

Ahead of his arrest, Pradhan spoke to the media, stating, “I have come here to cooperate with the investigation. If my arrest can help resolve the issue, I am ready for it.” However, he denied any involvement in the assault, claiming, “I have no connection with the attack on the BMC Additional Commissioner. This is a politically motivated conspiracy aimed at defaming me, my party, and our government.”

Shortly after the arrest, tension escalated at Vani Vihar Square, where hundreds of Pradhan’s supporters staged a sit-in protest, blocking the National Highway. The protest led to a major traffic disruption, leaving commuters stranded for several hours. Police forces were deployed to manage the situation and restore normalcy. Efforts are ongoing to engage with the demonstrators and ensure that law and order is maintained.

Following a court hearing, Pradhan’s bail plea was rejected, and he was remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. The information was confirmed by his legal counsel.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda