leaders across the party lines who had shared daises with dreaded criminal Susil Dhalsamant, who was arrested on Friday along with his brother Sushant Dhalsamant, sought to explain away their presence, saying these were social gatherings and it was not possible to know the antecedents of all those present on such occasions.

In photographs published in the media, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan, another BJP leader Sameer Dey, Congress leader and former Kalahandi MP Bhakta Charan Das, former Brahmagiri Congress MlA lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra, OPCC vice-president Suresh Mohapatra, BJD Cuttack-Barabati MlA Debasish Samantaray, BJD Tirtol MlA Rajashree Mallick, BJD Niali MlA Pramod Kumar Mallick and others were seen with Sushil Dhalsamant on various occasions.

Union Minister Pradhan shared a dais with Sushil at a blood donation camp in Cuttack on January 10.

“It was a social gathering. law is equal for fall. If a politician is involved with a criminal and committed a crime in connivance with him then it is an offence. As far as I know, I have not done any such thing. Moreover, till the time the court has not convicted a person, he cannot be called a criminal,” Pradhan remarked.

The Dhalsamant brothers have been arrested for their alleged involvement in tender-fixing and extortion.

On the other hand, Congress leader lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra has defended the Dhalsamant brothers. “Sushil is one of my distant relatives. No case is registered against Sushil. There is a deep conspiracy behind his arrest,” alleged Mohapatra.

The BJD has hinted at initiating action against its leaders if found having any link with the accused duo.

“It is condemnable to share dais with persons with criminal antecedents. They are saying they had gone to attend a blood donation camp. The allegations will be probed and party supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will initiate action against them,” BJD spokesperson and MlA Samir Ranjan Dash said.