Official statements or press releases from the Odisha Governor's office

Odisha Governor's Son Accused of Assaulting Raj Bhawan Employee Over Luxury Car

Jul 13, 2024, 08:57 AM

Baikuntha Pradhan, an employee working on deputation at Odisha's Raj Bhawan, has accused Lalit Kumar, the son of Governor Raghubar Das, of assaulting him during President Droupadi Murmu's visit to Puri on July 7 and 8. Pradhan's wife, Sayoj, reported that her husband was beaten and threatened multiple times by Kumar and his friends, allegedly over not sending a luxury car to pick them up. The incident reportedly occurred on the night of June 7, when Kumar called Pradhan to his room and assaulted him. Following the allegations, Governor Raghubar Das met with the Raj Bhawan staffer and assured justice. The incident has drawn significant attention, highlighting issues of abuse of power within the Governor's residence.