Odisha's circuit house controversy: BJP suspends Yuva Morcha leader

ROURKELA: Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal on Thursday suspended state executive committee member of the party's Yuva Morcha Prakash Paswan after his name reportedly cropped up in the controversy surrounding the government-owned Circuit House at Panposh here.

Key points

• Paswan additionally maintained to be the Rourkela representative of Union Tribal Affairs Minister and BJP MP of Sundargarh Jual Oram since May 2025.
• Prior to his joining the BJP in the run up to the 2024 general elections, Paswan was the state secretary of Biju Yuva Janata Dal.
• In a press release, the BJP media cell on Thursday informed that Paswan was suspended from the party for indiscipline behaviour and misconduct.
• Sources remarked with Paswan enjoying straightforward and seamless access to the top political echelons, the administration officers of the district were more than happy to oblige him.
• RN Pali police has intensified investigation into the Circuit House case.

Paswan (35) was allegedly involved in booking a room in the Circuit House for two criminals who were arrested from the state-managed guesthouse with firearms and live ammunition on August 15.

As plenty of magazines and live ammunition, the two habitual offenders – Bikash Dungri and Narayan Sahu – were arrested by RN Pali police from the Circuit House with two firearms. The information provided by them to police led to the arrest of five other criminals with two more firearms, live bullets and magazines. BJP sources remarked Paswan's alleged link with the criminals severely dented the party's image leading to his suspension.

Prior to his joining the BJP in the run up to the 2024 general elections, Paswan was the state secretary of Biju Yuva Janata Dal. The BJD removed him in September 2023 for anti-party activities after Paswan increasingly indicated up with senior BJP leaders.

Paswan additionally maintained to be the Rourkela representative of Union Tribal Affairs Minister and BJP MP of Sundargarh Jual Oram since May 2025. He was reportedly enjoying immense clout throughout the administrative machinery of the Sundargarh Lok Sabha constituency.

He was additionally seen attending official meetings and closely sharing space with top administration authorities of the district.

Meanwhile, RN Pali police has intensified investigation into the Circuit House case. Panposh SDPO Sushant Das remarked register logs, CCTV footage and other relevant information has been sought from the sub-collector to ascertain in whose name and recommendation the Circuit House room was registered and identify those who visited the accused persons.

For context, the room was reportedly booked on July 21. The two criminals were using the Circuit House as a hideout and enjoying the best of hospitality meant for VIPs in the administration guesthouse.

On Wednesday, state BJP spokesperson Dhiren Senapati had met Rourkela SP Nitesh Wadhwani and pressed police to take stern action against all those including politicians, administration authorities and civilians involved in the Circuit House case.

For now, odisha' s circuit house controversy: BJP suspends Yuva Morcha leader remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.