Bhubaneswar: In a major twist to sensational case in Odisha’s Balipatna, the incident which was initially reported as self-immolation by a man turned out to be a case of murder after thorough investigation by the police.
Police on Saturday stated that 42-year-old Jyoti Ranjan Mathia, who succumbed to burn injuries at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar, was allegedly set ablaze by his family members over a property dispute.
The dying declaration of Jyoti Ranjan, recorded through both audio and video, showed that his father, stepmother, and stepbrother doused him with petrol and set him on fire on Friday, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Zone 4), Abhimanyu Nayak told reporters.
While prima facie evidence indicates it was not self-immolation but a murder, the post-mortem report will provide a clear picture during the investigation, he said.
Based on the man’s dying declaration, Balipatna police arrested Jyoti Ranjan’s father Surendranath Mathia (74), stepmother Pravati Mathia (57), and stepbrother Prasant Kumar Mathia (34) on murder charges. They were forwarded to court and will be taken on remand for further interrogation as part of the probe.
The case, registered under sections 118(2)/109/3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), subsequently turned to section 103/3(5) of the BNS.
Notably, Jyoti Ranjan’s wife, Bijayalaxmi Behera, had lodged a written complaint accusing the three of setting her husband afire to deprive him of his share in the family property.
She also alleged that despite earlier complaints of assault by her mother-in-law, the local police failed to take action.
As per information, Jyoti Ranjan had been demanding his share of the ancestral property. His father, who remarried after his first wife’s death, allegedly transferred newly purchased land to his second wife and her son, ignoring Jyoti Ranjan plea.
Initial reports suggested that Jyoti Ranjan had attempted suicide by pouring petrol on himself and setting fire out of frustration. and suffered over 95% burn injuries. Locals rushed him to a nearby hospital before he was shifted to Capital Hospital and then referred to AIIMS-Bhubaneswar where he was declared dead on Saturday morning.