Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Mar 10:

Gangster Raja Acharya, convicted in the sensational murder of judo coach Biranchi Das was today granted bail by the Supreme Court.

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The gangster who is lodged in the Jharpada Special Jail here for nine years since May 28, 2008, after being accused of judo coach’s murder is expected to be out on bail within a week.

Supreme Court lawyer Shiva Shankar Mishra, Raja’s counsel has stated that the latter was granted bail by the apex court today.

According to Mishra, judo coach Biranchi Das was murdered on April 13, 2008. Police had lodged a murder case at the Badagada police station in this connection. In the same year, Badagada police arrested Raja Acharya from Goa on May 28. Later in 2011, the District and Sessions Court convicted Raja in the case and sentenced him to life imprisonment. However, Raja had petitioned the High Court challenging the lower court’s verdict. Since the matter did not come up for hearing in the High Court in the last eight years, Raja had appealed in the Supreme Court which granted him bail today.

It may be mentioned here that Raja had allegedly murdered judo coach Biranchi Das over his one-sided love affair with Odia music album actor Leslie Tripathy. The incident had led to shock waves in the state.

Police had also arrested Chagala, an associate of Raja in connection with the judo coach’s murder.