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July 05: BJP leader and a prime accused in last
year's communal riot in Kandhamal, Manoj Pradhan, was
released from jail here on Sunday, a day after being
granted interim bail to be able to take oath as an MLA.
Pradhan, who was lodged in jail since his arrest in
October 2008 on charge of murder, riot and arson, was
set free after furnishing required documents, a day
after a fast track court here granted him conditional
bail for 15 days in two cases. He had earlier got bail
in 12 other cases.
Elected to Orissa Assembly from G Udaygiri segment in
the recent elections, the riot accused was granted bail
on the basis of Orissa High Court's order. Pradhan had
earlier moved the High Court seeking bail to be able to
take oath as a member of the Orissa Assembly.
Refuting the charges against him, Pradhan told reporters
soon after his release: "I have been falsely implicated.
The charges levelled against me are fabricated and
fictitious.”
The riot accused, who is facing charges in seven murder
cases, six cases relating to house torching and an
attempt to murder case, said he would soon take oath as
a legislator and work for the development of his
constituency.
State BJP president Suresh Pujari said Pradhan was
likely to take oath as an MLA on Tuesday and the party
had urged the Assembly Speaker and police to provide
adequate security to Pradhan. "We fear Pradhan may
become a target of Maoists outside the jail," Pujari
said.
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