The Odisha Police on Sunday(20 July 2025) night arrested Udit Pradhan, the state president of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), for allegedly raping a 19-year-old student. He is expected to be presented in court today.

This arrest comes at a politically sensitive moment. The Congress party has been heavily criticizing the ruling BJP government in Odisha over rising crimes against women, especially after the recent death of a female student in Balasore. Now, the arrest of a top youth leader from their own party has put the Congress in a tough spot.

In response to the allegations, NSUI national president Varun Choudhary said that Pradhan has been “suspended with immediate effect, pending an internal inquiry.” The Odisha Congress has also set up a six-member fact-finding committee to meet the survivor and prepare a detailed report for the state party leadership.

Police have charged Udit Pradhan under several sections of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS):

• Section 64(1) – Rape

• Section 123 – Causing harm using poison or harmful substance

• Section 296 – Obscene acts or songs

• Section 74 – Use of criminal force against a woman

• Section 351(2) – Criminal intimidation

So far, the Congress has not issued any official public statement about the arrest or the allegations.

With a case of serious sexual violence now involving one of its own youth leaders, the Congress will likely have to confront both public scrutiny and internal questions.  How this plays out politically remains to be seen.