Odisha Crime Branch takes over Manas Swain murder case

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Mar 23, 2022 at 3:34 PM Updated On : Mar 23, 2022 at 7:00 PM

Bhubaneswar: The Crime Branch of Odisha Police will take up the investigation of alleged murder of Cameraman Manas Swain. This was informed by the Crime Branch ADG Sanjeeb Panda today.

As per an order issued by DGP, Odisha, Sunil Bansal, the CID-Crime Branch will take over the probe of Chandbali PS Case No. 63 dated 14.02.2022 of Bhadrak District in view of its gravity and involvement of multiple districts, added Panda.

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The Crime Branch has immediately formed two teams to probe the case. One team will investigate the case in different places including Bhubaneswar while another team will work for the arrest of the prime accused. DSP Kalpana Sahu will lead the investigation.

He further stated if need arises, the teams will widen its probe to outside Odisha. The investigating agency has information that the prime accused has managed to escape outside the State.

Earlier in the day, the police seized a car of Sharmistha Rout, prime accused in the Manas Rout murder case, from an apartment in Bhubaneswar where she was staying.

After the murder of Manas Rout came to fore, Sharmistha Rout has been absconding.

The police have arrested six persons so far including former Information & Public Relation (I&PR) Director Niranjan Sethi and brother of Sharmistha Rout, Parameswar Rout for their alleged involvement in the murder case.

While Niranjan Sethi was arrested from Bhubaneswar, Parameswar Rout was held from Vijayawada in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

Pararemswar had allegedly planned for his sister’s escape following murder of Manas Swain.

Manas Swain, a resident of Godipokhari village in Ranpur area of Nayagarh, was working as a cameraman in a Bhubaneswar-based web portal ‘Sampoorna’ run by Sarmistha Rout. His body was exhumed from Badhipatna hills in Nayagarh district on March 12, weeks after he went missing from Chandbali area in Bhadrak district.

Preliminary investigations revealed Manas Swain was abducted, thrashed and killed for possessing a microchip in which reportedly some objectionable content and video clips were saved.