BJP's Kandhmal candidate Ashok Sahu arrested

Ashok Sahu, BJP's candidate for the Kandhamal Lok Sabha seat, was arrested on Tuesday while he was addressing a rally in Phulbani.

This followed directions by the Election Commissioner to take action against the candidate for violating the code of conduct by making hate speeches against Christians in the communally sensitive Kandhamal district.

The controversial BJP candidate from Kandhmal, who was traced on Sunday night in Nayagarh district of Orissa, had managed to escape in the early hours of Monday morning.

On Sunday night, the police had surrounded the house where he was having dinner but could not arrest him because they did not have the arrest warrant with them.

When NDTV managed to speak to the MP earlier on Sunday, he said he'd rather appeal to the court for bail than surrender. Ironically, Sahu is a former police officer.

There were no word on where the MP was, but under the charges, he could be in jail for up to three years.

An FIR was lodged against Sahu on April 9 for his inflammatory speech against the Christians in the communally sensitive district.

After investigations, an arrest warrant was issued against Sahu on Saturday. But his son-in-law said he had no idea about Sahu's whereabouts.

Sahu had triggered the controversy when he said in his rally, "Who killed Swamiji? Did he not know that there would be dire consequences for such an act? If I say it too often I am accused of being communal and blamed for spreading communal hatred."

After the alleged hate speech came to light, the Kandhmal police have been investigating the case.

However, speaking to NDTV earlier, the BJP candidate had said that he was unapologetic about his comments on Christians.

"Why should I surrender on such flimsy grounds? But during my campaign if the government is arresting me, I will surrender to the law. So far the police has not raided the places where I am addressing rallies and meeting the public in the rural areas. The police is not reaching me," he said.