Udit Pradhan, the president of the Congress party's student wing in Odisha, the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), has been arrested in Bhubaneswar in connection with the alleged rape of a 19-year-old engineering student. The arrest has triggered significant questions about women's safety, politics, and the character of youth leadership in the state.

The alleged incident occurred in March when the victim met two friends at Master Canteen Chowk in Bhubaneswar. According to the victim's complaint, Udit Pradhan joined them and introduced himself as the president of the Odisha wing of NSUI. She alleges that Pradhan began misbehaving with her. The group then went to a hotel in the Nayapalli area in Pradhan's vehicle.

At the hotel, the victim stated that the group was drinking alcohol, but she declined. Pradhan allegedly offered her a cold drink, which she believes was laced with sedatives. Shortly after consuming the drink, the victim began to feel dizzy and requested to be taken home, but Pradhan and the others refused. She soon lost consciousness.

According to the victim, when she regained consciousness, she found Pradhan next to her and felt pain, realizing that she had been sexually assaulted. She alleges that when she confronted him, he threatened her with serious consequences if she spoke out or filed a complaint.

Based on the victim's complaint, a case has been registered under BNS sections 64(1), 123, 296, 74, and 351(2). Udit Pradhan was detained late Sunday night and is expected to be produced in court on Monday. Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena stated that Pradhan would be produced in court on Monday afternoon. Police have initiated a full investigation, citing the gravity of the allegations.

The arrest has sparked political backlash for the Congress party, which has been vocal in criticizing the ruling BJD government over rising crimes against women in Odisha. This comes at a particularly sensitive time, as the Congress has been targeting the BJP government in Odisha over the rise in crime against women, especially following the death of a college student who self-immolated while protesting sexual harassment by a faculty member. The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha had launched a fierce attack on the Odisha government, calling the student's death an "organised murder by the system" and blaming the BJP's failure to protect her. With Udit Pradhan's arrest, the BJP is now expected to retaliate sharply against the Congress, potentially shifting the political narrative in the state.

The incident also raises concerns about women's safety and the integrity of youth leadership. This follows the recent arrest of Trinamool Congress student leader Monojit Mishra, who was accused of raping a female student from South Calcutta Law College in West Bengal.