As per reports, Basanta Paradhan was detained by Titlagarh police on June 10, 2014 in connection with mobile theft case reported in Bolangir. He was handed over to the Bolangir police and released from their custody five after. Pradhan, a native of Hatapada in Titlagarh, died on June 28 due to custodial torture by the police.
The state government already paid Rs 3 lakh compensation to the kin of Basanta Pradhan. In June 2015, the rights panel questioned the state government why a compensation of Rs 5 lakh should not be given in this case. Hearing the petition, the commission directed the state government to pay additional Rs 2 lakh to the kin of deceased Pradhan.