Odisha governor Raghubar Das’s son has been accused of beating and misbehaving with a Raj Bhavan staff member in Puri on Thursday.

The staffer’s fault was that he had allegedly failed to send two luxury cars to pick up Das’s son Lalit Kumar and his two friends from the railway station to the Raj Bhavan. The staffer also accused Lalit of forcing him to lick his boot.

The incident occurred when President Droupadi Murmu was on a visit to the pilgrim town for the Rath Yatra and was staying at the Raj Bhavan. Though the main Raj Bhavan is in Bhubaneswar, Puri also has a Raj Bhavan by the beach. During their visit to the pilgrim town, dignitaries like the President and the governor stay at the Raj Bhavan in Puri.

The victim has been identified as 47-year-old Baikuntha Pradhan, assistant section officer of the Raj Bhavan’s household section. Pradhan, a former airman in the Indian Air Force, joined the Odisha government in 2019 after 20 years of service in the IAF. Pradhan has lodged a police complaint online.

“As there was no remorse from the governor’s side, I decided to raise the issue. I want justice for myself,” Pradhan told The Telegraph.

Narrating the incident, Pradhan said: “The governor’s son Lalit Kumar, along with his friends, reached Puri on July 6, a day ahead of the Rath Yatra. I had sent a car to pick him and his friends, but he was aggrieved as it was not a luxury car. As I was busy with the President’s programme, I was unable to meet him on July 7. Later in the night, he called me to his room and misbehaved with me.”

In his complaint, Pradhan wrote: “On July 7, 2024, at approximately 11.45pm, Aakash Singh, the personal cook of the governor, came to my room and asked me to meet the governor’s son right away at his suite number 4. When I reached there, the two personal security officers (PSOs), the governor’s son and his two friends and Aakash Singh, suddenly charged at me and asked why I didn’t send luxury cars to bring him and his friends from the railway station. When I tried to explain that all the cars were reserved for the President’s duty, they scolded me using unparliamentary language. When I protested, they physically assaulted me. Later, I ran away from the spot and hid behind the annexe building. The PSOs came and dragged me again to suite number 4 and beat me.”

Pradhan also alleged that was forced to spit on Lalit’s boot and lick it.

“As the President was in the Raj Bhavan from July 7 till July 8 morning, I wanted to do my duty sincerely and did not want to raise the issue. Later I informed the secretary to the governor Saswat Mishra about it. He had promised to initiate action but as he failed to resolve the issue and give me justice, I decided to raise the issue. We lodged a complaint online to the police on July 11,” Pradhan said.

Pradhan’s wife Srijoy said: “Today afternoon, the governor called us to Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar. He listened to us. The governor has assured me to give justice to my husband. We will wait for justice.”

A complaint has been registered with the National Human Rights Commission. Sources said the Governor’s House admitted that there was an argument between Pradhan and other staffers in Lalit’s presence but
denied that the latter had beaten anyone.

“There was a scuffle between the cook, staff and Pradhan. But the governor’s son is in no way involved in it. The secretary is inquiring
into the matter. As it is an internal affair, we tried to sort out it. But we wonder what’s the motive to go to the media,” said a senior official of the Governor’s House.

Both the BJD and the Congress maintained that it was a disgraceful act and asked chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi to order a probe and ensure justice for the victim. The Congress on Saturday held a demonstration demanding action against Lalit.