Bhubaneswar, July 04: A local court in Kandhamal
today granted 15-day conditional bail to BJP MLA Manoj
Pradhan, one of the prime accused in last year's communal riot
in the tribal dominated district.
Pradhan, languishing in jail ever since he was arrested
in October, 2008 on charges of murder, riot, arson and other
crimes, was elected to Orissa assembly from G Udaygiri segment
in recent polls.
The court granted bail to the MLA on the basis of a
Orissa High Court order. Pradhan had earlier moved the High
Court seeking bail to be able to take oath as a member of the
legislative assembly.
Though Pradhan was given bail, he could not be released
from jail today due to procedural delay. He is facing seven
murder cases, six relating to house torching and an attempt to
murder case.
"Pradhan has been granted bail for 15 days. He is likely
to take oath as MLA either on Monday or Tuesday," state BJP
president Suresh Pujari told a news agency.
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, July 04, 2009, 23:23