28 Aug, 2009
Kandhamal riot
accused BJP MLA acquitted in arson case
Phulbani (Orissa), Aug 28 (PTI) BJP MLA
Manoj Pradhan, booked under several charges for his alleged role in
last year’s communal violence in Kandhamal, was today acquitted in a
case of arson by a local court.
Pradhan, who is in jail facing about 14
criminal cases, was acquitted in one because of lack of proper
evidence in an incident of arson at Pisamaha village under Raikia
police station area.
A large number of houses at Pisamaha
village were set ablaze on August 27, 2008 during the riots last
year with a person named Gutia Digal lodging a complaint against
Pradhan.
The additional sessions judge of Fast
Track Court-1, said the evidence against Pradhan was not sufficient
to substantiate the charge of house burning.
Pradhan was elected to the state
Assembly as a BJP candidate from G Udaygiri segment while he was in
jail.