TV
The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) has suspended Odisha Student Congress president Udit Pradhan from the organisation following his arrest in a rape case. The action was confirmed by NSUI national president Varun Chaudhary.
“In view of recent developments, the NSUI Odisha State President has been suspended with immediate effect, pending inquiry. NSUI maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards gender- based injustice and is unwavering in its commitment to accountability and justice. Our fight for justice for the Balasore victim will continue with full resolve,” stated a press release issued by the organisation on Monday.
Pradhan was arrested by Mancheswar Police based on a complaint filed by a young woman who accused him of raping her at a city hotel on the night of March 18.
The police acted on prima facie evidence, and a case has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges of rape (BNS 64[1]), administering intoxicants to commit a crime (BNS 123), obscene conduct (BNS 296, 74), and issuing threats (BNS 351[2]).
Police Pieces Key Details
Odisha Police, on Monday, outlined key developments in the case and pieced together information according to the survivor's statements.
Prima facie, police said that the survivor was out with friends near Master Canteen Square in Bhubaneswar when Udit and another person allegedly joined them on March 18 this year.
Although she did not know Udit personally, she went with the group to a nearby hotel. While there, she refused alcoholic drinks and accepted a soft drink instead. Shortly after consuming the drink, she began to feel dizzy and decided to return home, but her friends allegedly persuaded her to stay.
She lost consciousness and later woke up to find Udit lying beside her in bed. Based on physical pain and visible injuries, she suspected she had been assaulted, said a senior police official.
“When she confronted him, Udit allegedly threatened and abused her, demanding silence. The survivor said she remained quiet for months out of fear but found the courage to speak up after several recent cases of violence against women came to light in Odisha,” said Biswaranjan Senapati, ACP (Zone 5).
Police have begun verifying CCTV footage from the hotel and have indicated that all individuals present during the incident, including the survivor's friends, will be interrogated. If found complicit, more arrests may follow, officials said.
