Odisha Governor Raghubar Das's Son Accused of Assaulting Raj Bhavan Employee During Prez Murmu Puri Visit

Pradhan's wife Sayoj alleged that her husband was beaten up because he did not send a luxury vehicle to pick up the governor’s son

An employee of the Odisha government working on deputation in Raj Bhavan has accused the son of Governor Raghubar Das of assaulting him during President Droupadi Murmu's visit to Puri last week. In his complaint to the governor's secretary, Baikunthanath Pradhan-- an assistant section officer of the state parliamentary affairs department deputed to the Raj Bhavan -- said Das's son Lalit Das, along with five others, assaulted him on the night of July 7. 

Pradhan's wife Sayoj alleged that her husband was beaten up because he did not send a luxury vehicle to pick up the governor’s son, according to a report by news agency PTI. She demanded legal action on the alleged attack on her husband.

President Droupadi Murmu went to Puri on a two-day trip on July 7 for the Rath Yatra festival. Pradhan was reportedly in the temple city since July 5 to supervise the preparedness at Raj Bhavan for President Murmu's visit.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, Pradhan in his complaint alleged that Lalit Kumar attacked him on July 7 night while he was on duty and threatened to kill him if he revealed the incident before anyone.

"On 7th July night at around 11.45 PM, while I was sitting in the office room, the personal cook of Odisha Governor Aakash Singh came to my office and told me that Lalit Kumar wanted to meet him at Suite No-4. When I went there, Lalit Kumar started slapping me and used absusive language. Feeling helpless, I started running out of the room and hid behind the Annexe building. However, the two PSOs of Lalit Kumar found me and dragged me to Room No. 4 through the lift. Security Personnel and others present there have witnessed this incident. They again started slapping, blowing punches on his face, kicking every part of his body and twisted my left ankle,” HT reported citing Pradhan's complaint. 

So far, the Raj Bhavan has not issued any statement on the matter. However, quoting an aide of the Raj Bhavan, HT reported that the matter was between a cook and the complainant and the governor's son is no way involved in it.