Odisha Lensman’s Murder: HC Rejects Anticipatory Bail Plea Of ‘Mastermind’ Sarmistha Rout

Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of web channel owner Sarmistha Rout, the prime accused in the alleged kidnap and murder of cameraman Manas Swain.

She had moved the court to avoid a possible arrest.

Notably, Bhadrak police arrested two persons– former Information & Public Relation (I&PR) Director (Technical) Niranjan Sethi and his associate Ranjan Nayak– in this case on Monday.

According to police, the 60-year-old Sethi, who had also worked as the public relations officer (PRO) of the governor and the chief minister, conspired with Sharmista to kill Swain since he was reportedly in possession of some controversial videos and photos, which could have landed her in trouble.

She was desperately trying to get the memory chip that contained these photos and videos.

Swain, 28, went missing from a wedding venue in Bhadrak on February 7 and his body was exhumed at Ranpur in  Nayagarh district on March 12.

Three accused, Bhagyadhar Nayak (26), Bebek Nayak (19) and Krushna Chandra Nayak (50), who were arrested on March 12, confessed to having killed Swain at Dayal Ashram run by Sarmistha in Bhubaneswar and burying the body at Ranpur to destroy evidence, additional SP, Bhadrak, Jatin Panda said.

The trio told police they had committed the murder at the behest of Sarmistha and Sethy monitored the entire crime, Panda told a press meet at Chandbali in Bhadrak.

“Sethi even beat up Swain after the latter was abducted and kept at Dayal Ashram. He also monitored disposal of the body,” Panda added.

Shamistha, who would be in her early 40s, also owns a vernacular tabloid published fortnightly and Sethi had empanelled her tabloid to receive government advertisements, on the day of his retirement on February 28 this year.