In a significant development in the assault case of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo, the Khordha District & Sessions Court, has granted bail to five accused individuals.
The court’s decision follows a hearing involving Aparupa Narayan Rout, the corporator of Ward No. 29, Rashmi Ranjan Mahapatra, Debashish Pradhan, Sachikanta Swain, and Sanjib Mishra. Earlier, on July 9, BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan, also implicated in the case, was granted bail in the same matter.
The incident, which occurred on June 30, 2025, shocked the state when Ratnakar Sahu was allegedly subjected to a brutal assault inside the BMC office premises. According to reports, the accused dragged Sahoo from the grievance cell, physically attacked him, and attempted to abduct him. The case took a political turn, with allegations pointing to BJP leader Jagannath Pradhan as the mastermind behind the attack.
The incident sparked outrage, leading to a sit-in protest by the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and a work stoppage by the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) Association. Following the unrest, Pradhan surrendered at the DCP office and was subsequently arrested.
The Khordha District & Sessions Court, in its ruling on July 9, had earlier granted bail to Jagannath Pradhan in connection with Kharabela Nagar Police Station Case No. 280/25. The court set his bail at ₹30,000 with a surety, as confirmed by advocate Chittaranjan Das. The hearing for the remaining five accused was scheduled for July 15, and the court has now extended bail to them as well, marking a significant turn in the case.
The assault on a senior BMC official has raised concerns about safety in public offices and drawn attention to the political undercurrents in Odisha.
As the legal proceedings continue, the case remains a focal point of public and political discourse in Bhubaneswar.
