Odisha Governor’s son beats up officer for not sending a luxury car

Senior officials and Police accused of not filing the complaint

Governor Raghubar Das

Bhubaneswar, Odisha – The son of Odisha Governor Raghubar Das severely beat up an officer at the Raj Bhavan for not sending a luxury car to pick him up from the railway station. The officer, named Vaikunth Pradhan, attempted to escalate the matter to senior officials and file a complaint with the Police, but received no response. Pradhan, who was appointed as an assistant departmental officer in the household department of the Odisha Raj Bhavan Secretariat, alleges that on the night of 7 July, Lalit Kumar, the Governor’s son, along with five associates, beat him up with kicks and punches inside the Raj Bhavan in Puri.

Pradhan’s story –

Pradhan stated that after being beaten by Lalit Kumar, he fled and hid in the Raj Bhavan, but was caught by Kumar’s private security guards, who dragged him back to Lalit Kumar’s quarters. Witnesses to this incident included Raj Bhavan employees and Lalit Kumar’s security guards. He claims that if he had been killed, no one would have saved him.

Attempt to File a Complaint

On 8 July, the day after the assault, Pradhan verbally informed the secretaries about the incident. On 10 July, he detailed the entire incident via email. Pradhan’s wife, Sayoj, protested outside the Bhubaneswar Raj Bhavan and showed the media the complaint letter they had submitted to the Police. She stated that they went to the Police on 11 July to file a complaint but were refused. They then sent the complaint via email.

Editorial Perspectives

  • If this complaint is true, strict punishment is necessary for the Governor’s son, who has become arrogant due to his father’s position and authority.
  • How can administrative officials and Police, who avoid filing complaints and support the accused, uphold the rule of law ?