Cuttack: In a significant verdict in the sensational Mahanga double murder case in Odisha, a court in Cuttack’s Salepur on Wednesday sentenced nine persons to life imprisonment for their involvement in the killing of a BJP leader and his associate three years ago.
However, the Court of the Additional District Judge, Salepur acquitted an accused in the case due to lack of evidence.
The judgement was pronounced in the sensational case relating to the killing BJP leader Kulamani Baral and his associate Dibyasingha Baral in Mahanga area of Cuttack district in 2021.
The family members of the deceased had levelled allegations against BJD leader and former Minister Pratap Jena in connection with the murder case. The Court of JMFC, Salepur had ordered for continuation of the case against Jena. The matter is currently sub-judice in the Orissa High Court.
Notably, Kulamani Baral and Dibyasingha Baral were hacked to death near Jankoti village in the Mahanga area on January 2, 2021.
Kulamani was reportedly raising the issue of a few BJD leaders’ alleged involvement in the misappropriation of funds under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
Police had booked Jena, then Law Minister, and 12 others in the double murder case on the basis of a complaint lodged by Kulamani’s son Ranjit Kumar Baral. However, Jena’s name was later dropped from the chargesheet.
Hearing a petition filed by Kulamani’s son, the JMFC court had directed the police to probe the allegations regarding Jena’s involvement in the case.
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