PHULBANI, Jul 5 (PTI): BJP leader and a prime accused in last year's communal riot in Kandhamal, Manoj Pradhan, was released from jail on Sunday, a day after  being granted interim bail to be able to take oath as an MLA.

Pradhan, who was lodged in jail since his arrest in October, 2008 on charge of murder, riot and arson, was set free after furnishing required documents, a day after a fast track court here granted him conditional bail for 15 days in two cases. He had earlier got bail in 12 other cases.

Elected to Orissa assembly from G Udaygiri segment in the recent elections, the riot accused was granted bail on the basis of Orissa High Court's order. Pradhan had earlier moved the High Court seeking bail to be able to take oath as a member of the Orissa assembly.

Refuting the charges against him, Pradhan told reporters soon after his release: "I have been falsely implicated. The charges levelled against me are fabricated and fictitious."

The riot accused, who is facing charges in seven murder cases, six cases relating to house torching and an attempt to murder case, said he would soon take oath as a legislator and work for the development of his constituency.

State BJP president Suresh Pujari said Pradhan was likely to take oath as an MLA on Tuesday and the party had urged the assembly speaker and police to provide adequate security to Pradhan. "We fear Pradhan may become a target of Maoists outside the jail," Pujari said.