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Bhubaneswar: In a big breakthrough, the Crime Branch on Monday arrested web channel owner and prime accused in the cameraman Manas Swain murder cases, Sarmistha Rout along with her associate Jhuna Bhoi from Nalanga area in Bhadrak district.
“The duo was nabbed by the joint team of Bhadark police and Crime Branch. They will be produced in the JMFC court, Chandbali, later in the day,” Addl DG Crime Branch Sanjeeb Panda informed.
He further said that the CB will seek the court’s permission to take Sarmistha and Jhuna on remand for a period of 10 days for further investigation into the case. The remand of 5 other accused arrested earlier will also be sought, he added.
Hear Addl DG Crime Branch Sanjeeb Panda Speak On Arrest of Sarmistha Rout:
Notably, the Bhadrak police, who was earlier conducting the investigation, had come under a cloud for letting her go after two-day questioning, following which she absconded.
The 28-year-old cameraman was allegedly beaten to death at an old age home in Bhubaneswar after being kidnapped from Bhadrak on February 7 and his body was disposed of in Nayagarh district. Police exhumed the body on March 12, more than a month after he disappeared, following the arrest of three kidnappers, who claimed to have committed the crime at the behest of Sarmistha.
The crime was reportedly committed over a memory chip containing objectionable video and photos that could have landed Sarmistha in trouble.
The case earlier took a shocking twist with the arrest of retired OIS officer Niranjan Sethi, who is believed to be the co-conspirator, and his associate, Raj Nayak. Sethi allegedly monitored the entire crime.
The others arrested in the case include Krushna Chandra Nayak (50), Bhagyadhar Nayak (26) and Bibek Nayak (19), who allegedly kidnapped Manas, and also Sarmistha’s brother Pararemswar Rout, who had allegedly prepared the blueprint for her escape following the murder of the cameraman.
Also Read: Odisha Lensman Murder: Wife’s Charges Spell Fresh Trouble For Ministers Dibya Shankar, Pratap Jena
