Overview
- Deepak Pradhan, 67, was arrested Sunday after a Friday night assault report, with a local court later remanding him to judicial custody.
- Police say he entered the student’s rented room while delivering groceries, asked for water, locked the door, and assaulted her.
- Officers booked him under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, citing Section 64(1) for rape and Section 62 for attempts.
- Investigators are examining how an outsider accessed the women’s hostel and say patrols will increase in rental areas on the city’s outskirts.
- Public concern has grown over student safety, with one report noting Bhubaneswar rape cases rose from 149 in 2024 to 170 in 2025.