Bhubaneswar(OT Webdesk): The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) has suspended its Odisha president, Udit Pradhan, following his arrest over serious sexual assault charges involving a 19-year-old engineering student.
According to police sources, the survivor alleged that Pradhan offered her a cold drink laced with sedatives in a Bhubaneswar hotel on March 18, after which she lost consciousness. Upon waking, she realised she had been assaulted.
The formal complaint was lodged on July 20, leading to his immediate arrest.
Pradhan has been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including rape (Section 64(1)), causing hurt by poison (Section 123), criminal intimidation (Section 351(2)), and obscene acts (Section 296).
NSUI issued an official statement confirming Pradhan’s suspension, distancing itself from the matter.
The Congress party has pledged full cooperation with the investigation, while opposition leaders, particularly from the BJP, have criticised the ruling party’s stance on women’s safety.
This case follows closely on the heels of another shocking incident — the suicide of a student allegedly harassed by a faculty member — intensifying public pressure for systemic accountability.
Analysts suggest the growing outrage may significantly influence electoral narratives ahead of Odisha’s upcoming state elections.
