Bhubanewswar, Apr 27: In a disturbing incident, a woman was allegedly raped in Bhubaneswar by an absconding accused whom she had given shelter, a source said on Monday.

According to the source, the accused was identified as Amitabh Pradhan, a resident of Basuaghai area in Khordha district. The victim reportedly had allowed the man to stay at her place in Bhubaneswar's Dumduma area, despite being aware of a previous case registered against him.

The complaint alleged that during his stay, the accused raped the woman. The victim further stated that the accused extorted nearly Rs 5 lakh from her over time and subjected her to physical and mental harassment, which allegedly led to a miscarriage.

Following the complaint, Khandagiri police registered a case and launched an investigation.

The accused was subsequently arrested and produced before a court. Police stated that further investigation is underway to verify all aspects of the allegations, including the financial transactions and medical claims.

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The incident came to light at a time when women's safety remains a major concern for law enforcement authorities in Odisha. In a written reply to a question at the Odisha Legislative Assembly on March 24, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had informed that over 53,000 cases of crime against women were recorded in the state between June, 2024 and March 7, 2026. While 4,713 rape cases were registered during the 18-month period, 212 attempt-to-rape cases were recorded during this time.

Stating that 11,502 cases of kidnapping/abduction were lodged during the 18-month period, the Chief Minister had said, 12,531 cases of molestation, 1,869 sexual harassment and 2,673 public disrobing cases were also registered.

This story is compiled by Manisha Dhal.