Manas Swain was demanding Rs 10,000 to return chip to Sarmistha: Crime Branch

Bhubaneswar: The Crime Branch of Odisha Police, which has been investigating the Cameraman Manas Swain murder case, today revealed the victim demanded Rs 10,000 from accused Sarmistha Rout to provide her a memory chip.

During the second phase of a three-day remand period of accused Sarmistha Rout and Jhuna Bhoi, the Crime Branch found out that Manas was staying in Dayal Ashram from January 10 onwards. On January 30, 2022, both Sarmistha and Niranjan had called Manas to Sampoorna office and asked him to give them the chip with video recording.

When Manas refused to hand over the chip as demanded, Sarmistha and Niranjan assaulted him at the Sampoorna office and later took him to Dayal Ashram where he was staying. Sarmistha and Niranjan then took away the camera of Manas.

The next day, Manas left the ashram and stayed at different places in Bhubaneswar. He also demanded Rs 10,000 and his camera from Sharmistha to give her the memory chip.

When on February 5, 2022, Manas along with Deepak went to Chandbali for marriage shoot, Sarmistha along with other accused kidnapped Manas to get back the chip from him.

The Crime Branch further stated as per investigation, the memory chip was with Manas last. Hence, the investigating agency conducted search at his native place at Ranpur yesterday.

The Crime Branch team also conducted searches at two places in Bhubaneswar where Manas had stayed. But, the chip is yet to be recovered.