Twelve days after Congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati’s close relatives were attacked in a hotel here, family members of Biju Yuba Janata Dal leader Dharmendra Adhikari, one of the accused in the case, have claimed his innocence in the attack.
Addressing a Press conference, Dharmendra (Kuni)’s elder brother Debendra Adhikari and sisters Jyotshna and Archana along with sister-in-laws said the allegations levelled against Dharmendra were baseless and politically fabricated.
“We condemn the attack on the relatives of the Congress leader inside hotel Madhumati. But, we express unhappiness that false charges have been made against Dharmendra,” they said.
Citing the CCTV footage of the hotel, they said Dharmendra was unarmed at the time of the incident and had not attacked any member of Bahinipati’s family. They also appealed to Dharmendra through media to surrender before police and keep faith on the law.
Notably, BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik suspended Dharmendra from BYJD Korapaut district chief post. On the other hand, Bahinipati along with Congress leaders Narasingh Mishra and Kishore Patel met the DGP Prakash Mishra and urged him take appropriate action against the accused. Mishra assured them of appropriate actions, sources said.