Cuttack: The Odisha Crime Branch (CB) today moved the Orissa High Court challenging the verdict of a lower court of acquittal of two accused in the Pipili gang-rape and murder case.

The agency has appealed the High Court to adjudicate the case and punish the culprits, reports said.

The Bhubaneswar District & Sessions Judge Court had on December 24 acquitted accused siblings Sukant Pradhan and Prashant Pradhan due to lack of evidence in the case. Both the brothers were accused in the gang rape of a 19-year-old dalit girl from Pipili.

After the verdict, Crime Branch ADG Santosh Kumar Upadhyay had said that additional public prosecutor was consulted in the matter who opined that there was strong and valid reason to move higher court.

Notably, the Dalit girl was found in a semi-nude and unconscious state near her house in Arjungoda village of Pipili, on November 29, 2011.

A case was registered by the family members alleging gang rape and a murder attempt on the girl. The victim was under the treatment at the SCB Medical College & Hospital in a critical condition after she was allegedly subjected to rape and then attempts of murder through strangulation. She died on June 21, 2012 after battling for life for more than five months.