Bhubaneswar, March 9: Manoj Pradhan, BJP MLA from G Udaygiri, today surrendered before a fast track court at Phulbani, the headquarter of Kandhamal district.

Pradhan, convicted by a local court for attacking a Christian during the 2008 Kandhamal riots, surrendered before Judge Sobhan Kumar Das of the fast track court-1. “I surrender honouring the directive of the Supreme Court. I have full faith on the judiciary and am sure that my bail plea will be granted so that I would again be able to serve people,” Pradhan told mediapersons.

The Supreme Court rejected Pradhan’s bail in January, while acting on a special leave petition filed by one Kanak Rekha Nayak, widow of Parikhita Nayak, who was killed on August 27, 2008.

Kanak Rekha had challenged the high court order granting bail to Pradhan. The state government’s standing counsel Suresh Tripathy supported the plea for bail rejection.

In June last year, a fast track court in Kandhamal had convicted the BJP MLA and awarded him a sentence of seven years rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the murder of Parikhita Nayak.

At least 14 cases had been filed against Pradhan in connection with the Kandhamal riots. Of these cases, he has been acquitted in seven cases. Of the rest, three cases are related to murder and four others related to torching of churches and houses.

Pradhan had fought 2009 Assembly polls from jail and was elected from G Udaygiri constituency.