Odisha Lensman’s Murder: Niranjan Sethi Helped Empanel Newspaper Owned By Sarmistha Rout For Govt Ads

Bhubaneswar: Former Director (Technical) of Odisha’s Information and Public Relations (I&PR) department Niranjan Sethi, who was arrested on Monday for his alleged involvement in the abduction and murder of cameraman Manas Swain, had allegedly played a major role in the empanelment of Odia weekly Sampurna for issuance of government advertisements.

Sampurna’s editor Sarmistha Rout is the alleged key conspirator who plotted Swain’s kidnapping and murder since he was in possession of some controversial videos and photos. She is also the owner of a Bhubaneswar-based web channel, where Swain used to work. She is on the run and police is making efforts to nab her.

According to media reports, Sethi, a former Odisha Information Service (OIS) officer, helped Sampurna get empanelled for government advertisements on February 28 this year, the day he retired from service.

Also Read: Former Senior I&PR Officer Niranjan Sethi Arrested In Odisha Lensman’s Murder

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 crime at the behest of Sarmistha and Sethi 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.