Sharmili Mallick

Bhubaneswar: A day after Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy hailed the court’s verdict in the Pipili gang rape and murder case of 2011, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday strongly condemned the former and accused that the statement indicates the flawed policies of the State government on women and scheduled caste.

The Union Minister also advised the Odisha Government to move the higher court to ensure justice to the victim.

“The concerned state authorities should move to the higher court to ensure justice to the girl,” said Pradhan.

“The Minister (Maharathy) is saying that the victim got justice with the verdict. I would say there are no words other than this to express the level of ego in his statement. This is condemnable and shows the flawed policies of the State government on women and people of scheduled caste,” added the Union Minister.

On Monday, the Bhubaneswar Additional District Judge acquitted the prime accused of Pipili gang rape and murder case, Prashant Pradhan and his brother Sukant due to lack of evidence against them.

Maharathy, who had to quit from his ministerial post in 2012 based on allegations of shielding the accused, hailed the court’s verdict and said truth has finally prevailed.

“My sympathies are with the victim, but I respect the court’s verdict. I had then told that truth will prevail,” said Maharathy.

It is pertinent to mention that the 19-year-old girl was found unconscious and semi-naked in a paddy field on November 28, 2011. She succumbed on June 21, 2012 after remaining semi-comatose in SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

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