Pipili Gang Rape-Murder Case: CB Challenges Acquittal Of Accused In Orissa HC

Cuttack: The state Crime Branch (CB) on Thursday moved the Orissa High Court against the verdict of a lower court, acquitting two of the accused in the Pipili gang-rape and murder case.

It has appealed to the High Court to adjudicate the case and punish the culprits, sources said.

On December 24, the Bhubaneswar District & Sessions Judge Court had acquitted accused siblings, Sukant Pradhan and Prashant Pradhan, for lack of evidence. The Additional District Judge, in his judgment, had that mentioned that the murder has been established, but not the complicity of the accused.

Additional Director General (ADG), Crime Branch, Santosh Upadhyay, in a briefing to the media on December 27, had said they had properly investigated the case and the Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) had meticulously presented his argument on every aspect of the investigation before the court of the ADJ.

“In this connection, we had a thorough discussion with the APP and sought his opinion. We collected the deposition statement of 76 witnesses in this case and the written arguments and opinion of the APP. The APP in his opinion has said since there are strong and valid grounds in this case, it deserves an appeal before the higher court. Taking this into consideration, we will appeal before the High Court through the Director, Public Prosecution as per the established protocol,” the ADG had pointed out.

The 19-year-old victim of Arjungoda village of Pipili in Puri district had gone into coma after being allegedly gang-raped on November 28, 2011. She was found unconscious and in a semi-nude state in a paddy field near her village. After remaining in coma for over six months, she died at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack in June 2012.