Kandhamal riot accused out on bail to take oath as MLA

Phulbani, July 5 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and a prime accused in several cases relating to last year's communal violence in Orissa's Kandhamal district, Manoj Pradhan was released from jail today to be able to take oath as a member of the Orissa legislative Assembly.

Legislator from G. Udayagiri constituency, Pradhan was released after a fast track court here granted him conditional bail for 15 days in two cases. Earlier, he had got bail in 12 other cases.

Pradhan was lodged in jail since his arrest in October 2008 on charge of murder, riot and arson.

He was granted interim bail on the basis of the Orissa High Court's order.

After his release, Pradhan said: "I have been falsely implicated. The charges levelled against me are fabricated and fictitious."radhan had not been able to take oath as a Member of the state Assembly as he was in judicial custody in Kandhamal.

Kandhamal had witnessed the killing of 38 Christians and the burning of several houses and churches during communal violence last year following the murder of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati. (ANI)