Photographer Manas Swain murder: Crime Branch submits 905-page charge sheet

Bhubaneswar: The Crime Branch of Odisha Police submitted a 905-page charge sheet against eight persons including Sarmishta Rout in the sensational murder of photographer Manas Kumar Swain.

Crime Branch officials said after recording the statement 34 witnesses, the state investigating agency today submitted the charge sheet in the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Chandbali today.

The investigating team conducted investigation at multiple locations in Bhadrak, Bhubaneswar and Nayagarh districts and collected evidences.

Under Section 363/364/465/467/471/302/201/120-B/212/34 IPC the Crime Branch charge sheeted Sarmistha Rout and associates namely Jhuna Bhoi, Raj alias Ranjan Kumar Nayak, Bhagyaban alias Bhagyadhar Nayak, Niranjan Sethy, Parameswar Rout, Krushna Chandra Nayak and one juvenile.

On February 7, 2022, a case was registered at Chandbali Police Station on basis of a written report filed by Manas Kumar Swain’s father Panchanan Swain from Nuapalli village of Nayagarh alleging kidnapping of his son at Palaspur-Dogachhia Chhak in Bhadrak district.

The Crime Branch officials said during investigation witnesses acquainted with the facts were examined, incriminating cell phones were seized and analysed, the dead body of abducted Manas Kumar Swain was exhumed following questioning of Bhagyadhar Nayak. Weapon of offence was seized on the lead of Ranjan Nayak.

The investigating team also seized articles used by the deceased from Dayal Ashram under Airfield Police Station in Bhubaneswar, Badhiapatna near Rajasunakhala and Chandikhol on the basis of information provided by the accused during interrogation.

Specimen handwritings of the accused were collected and compared with the questioned undertaking executed by the deceased. The car of accused Sarmistha Rout, Editor of Sampurna News at Sky Tower under Airfield police limits used for destruction and concealment of the dead body was seized. The video camera of the deceased was seized from the house of Jhuna Bhoi. Test identification parade was also conducted where the accused were correctly identified, the Crime Branch officials said.

Manas Kumar Swain, a professional photographer was hired by Sarmishta Rout. Manas had recorded various events as per the order of Sarmishta but in spite of repeated demand had not handed over the photographs and videos due to certain dispute between them.

As Manas avoided meeting Sarmistha, she hatched a conspiracy with other co-accused to pick Manas from Bhadrak where he had gone for video recording a marriage function. She along with her accomplices forcefully kidnapped Manas when he came out from the function and took him to Dayal Ashram run by her. She confined him in one of the room and assaulted and threatened him so as to force him to handover the recorded material. The severe assault let to death of Manas, the Crime Branch officials said.

She then hatched a plan to dispose off his dead body by burying it at an isolated place in Nayagarh district. The personal article of the deceased including his mobile phones was thrown at different locations.

After demand from different sections of the society for a fair probe, the Crime Branch took up the investigation after about 40 days of the incident.

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