Mahanga viral audio case: Former Panchayat Samiti chairman, school PET arrested

Cuttack: Former chairman of Mahanga panchayat samiti Sarat Nayak and physical education teacher (PET) Anupam Ray were arrested today in connection with the death of a school girl. An audio clip purportedly involving the suspended chairman has gone viral and was reported by the media.

“Anupam Ray was arrested on the charge of abetting the minor girl to commit suicide. Sarat Kumar Nayak was quite aware that the PET was responsible for the girl committing suicide. Nayak was arrested on the charge of destroying evidence and collecting money from the accused school teacher. We have forwarded both of them to court,” said Cuttack SP (Rural) Mihir Kumar Panda in a presser.

Nayak was earlier suspended from the primary membership of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on August 17, an official order undersigned by Cuttack district president Debashish Samantaray read.

Worth mentioning, a girl student in Mahanga panchayat of Cuttack district was found dead under mysterious circumstances on June 16. It is alleged that the body was disposed of without obtaining a post-mortem certificate.

The mystery shrouding her death deepened as the audio of a telephonic conversation between the former chairman and the mother of the physical education teacher of the school went viral on social media. In the audio clip, Nayak was demanding Rs 70, 000 from the woman to hush up the matter and the said amount was supposed to be given to police personnel and local journalists.

The girl was in a relationship with the PET. She died by suicide after her family members came to know about the affair, locals had alleged.

Nayak was further heard saying to the teacher’s mother that the girl’s body was cremated and later immersed in a river to put a lid on the matter.

Following the development, police previously went to the house of the PET and questioned him and his mother.

On the other hand, the State Commission for Women has registered a suo motu case in the matter.

The commission also sought a report in this regard from Cuttack SP (Rural) within 15 days.