Bhubaneswar | The Politics News Desk
Police have arrested Student Congress President Udit Pradhan on serious charges of rape. The Mancheswar Police picked him up late at night after a girl filed a complaint saying Udit had raped her in a hotel after giving her a soft drink mixed with drugs.
The police said Udit will be taken to court today. The National Youth Congress has also suspended Udit from his post and the party.
What the Girl Said in Her Complaint
According to the complaint, the incident happened on March 18 this year. The girl said she went to the Master Canteen Chowk in Bhubaneswar along with her friend and a classmate. There, her classmate introduced them to Udit Pradhan.
Udit then invited them to a hotel in Nuapally. They all went there in his car. At the hotel, they were drinking alcohol, but the girl refused. So Udit gave her a soft drink, which he had secretly mixed with some drug, she said.
After drinking it, the girl started feeling dizzy and weak. She asked Udit to drop her home, but he and the others refused. She soon fell unconscious.
When she woke up, she realised she had been raped. She said Udit also threatened her not to tell anyone. She was scared because Udit was a student leader and remained silent for some time. Later, she decided to file a complaint.
What the Police Are Doing
The Mancheswar Police Station arrested Udit after the girl filed the FIR. Zone 5 ACP Biswaranjan Sahayati said that five serious charges have been framed against Udit under the Indian Penal Code 2023:
- Section 64(1): Forcing someone to give consent
- Section 123: Rape
- Section 296: Rape after giving drugs or alcohol
- Section 74: Hiding or destroying evidence
- Section 351(2): Violence against women and cruel behaviour
More People Under Investigation
Police said they will question the other two youths and the girl who went to the hotel. They will also talk to the hotel staff and check CCTV footage if needed.
After the arrest, around 50 people from Udit’s family and Student Congress members gathered near Mancheswar Police Station.
The Commissionerate Police said they will ensure the safety of the victim and take the case seriously.
