Odisha MLA Muktikanta Mandal acquitted in murder case

Bhadrak: The Court of Additional District Judge (ADJ) here today acquitted Dhamnagar MLA Muktikanta Mandal in the sensational Niranjan Jena murder case.

Adjudicating the case, ADJ Anup Kumar Chandan acquitted the legislator due to lack of evidences after taking into account 31 witnesses.

This apart, Nepal Nayak, Basant Nayak, Raghunath Jena, Jayakrushna Rout and Kailash Nayak, who were earlier accused in the case, have also been acquitted by the court.

Notably, Niranjan Jena of Sugo village under Basudevpur police station limits in the district was allegedly kidnapped and beaten to death by 20-25 men on November 3, 2002.

Deceased Niranjan’s uncle Dushasan Jena had lodged a complaint with the police alleging involvement of Muktikanta Mandal, the then block chairman of Basudevpur, and five others in the murder.