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67-year-old grocery shopkeeper rapes MBA student in Bhubaneswar; police arrest suspect
A 67-year-old grocery shopkeeper barged into a women’s hostel in Bhubaneswar and allegedly raped an MBA student from Bilaspur. The survivor filed a police complaint and is undergoing medical examination; the accused, Deepak Pradhan, has been arrested and police say he will be placed under judicial custody after interrogation.
Why It Matters
The case raises concerns about safety near student accommodations and the effectiveness of entry controls in hostels, alongside timely investigation and accountability in sex-crime cases.
Timeline
3 Events
Police arrest the accused
April 26, 2026
After interrogation, police arrested the accused, identified as Deepak Pradhan, in connection with the Bhubaneswar incident. They said that after interrogation, he will be placed under judicial custody.
Rape at women’s hostel in Bhubaneswar; complaint filed; medical exam ordered
April 24, 2026
A 67-year-old grocery shopkeeper, Deepak Pradhan, barged into a women’s hostel adjacent to his shop in Gangapada, Bhubaneswar, and allegedly raped an MBA student from Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. The survivor filed a complaint at Info Valley Police Station. The police sent the survivor for a medical examination and are investigating how an outsider gained entry to the hostel.
Context: Delhi case referenced in article
April 2026
The article notes the Bhubaneswar case came days after an IRS Officer’s daughter in Delhi, an IIT Delhi graduate, was raped and murdered by her former domestic helper. The Delhi suspect, Rahul Meena, reportedly gained entry to the victim’s Delhi home with a spare key, allegedly assaulted and raped her, and later strangled her. The article also cites a separate incident in Rajasthan’s Alwar in which Meena allegedly raped a friend’s wife hours before the Delhi murder.