Bhubaneswar: Taking disciplinary action, National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of Indian National Congress, suspended NSUI Odisha president Udit Pradhan following rape allegation against him. 

Udit Narayan Pradhan was suspended with immediate effect. 

NSUI maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards gender-based injustice and is unwavering in its commitment to accountability and justice, NSUI President Varun Choudhary said in a release following the action. 

However, the organisation's fight for justice for Balasore FM College victim will continue, he cleared. 

The Mancheswar police have arrested Udit on charges of allegedly raping a 19-year-old girl after spiking her drink at a hotel in Bhubaneswar.

The arrest was made following a complaint filed by the girl, an engineering student. The alleged incident took place on March 18 this year.

As per the complaint, Udit offered the girl a soft drink laced with an intoxicating substance in a hotel at Mancheswar area in Bhubaneswar. After consuming the drink, she felt dizzy and asked her friends to take her to homme. She eventually lost her consciousness after a few minutes. When she regained awareness, realised that Udit had raped her. When she confronted him, the student congress leader threatened her with serious consequences if she discloses the incident. 

Initially, she remained silent over the matter for months. After gathering courage, she lodged a complaint with the Mancheswar police. Following the FIR, police acted against Udit last night.