Bhbaneswar, Apr 7: In connection with cameraman Manas Swain murder case, the two prime accused were sent to jail after the end of remand period today. Bhubaneswar-based web channel owner Sarmistha Rout and her aid Jhuna Bhoi was sent to Bhadrak Sub-Jail after they were produced before the JMFC Court, Chandbali.
Police source said that all the accused persons including retired OIS Officer Niranjan Sethi in the case will be deposed before the court on April 11. On April 3, Sarmistha and Jhuna were taken on a three-day remand again for interrogation in the case after completion of their 5-day remand.
During grilling in the second phase of remand, Jhuna reportedly revealed before the Crime Branch that Manas Swain was beaten to death with the help of three split bamboo lathis and one wooden plank. Jhuna narrated how Manas was killed at Dayal Ashram on February 7 night in Bhubaneswar. On basis of the lead provided by Jhuna, who was the Ashram’s caretaker, the investigating agency recovered four weapons used for murder.
On April 4, 2022, a Crime Branch team had visited residence of Manas in Ranpur in Nayagarh district. His wife and brother identified the half burnt chappal and half burnt ear phone of Manas recovered from Chandikhol.
Police said that Manas was kidnapped and later killed for a microchip that is suspected to have contained obscene videos or photographs.
Manas Swain, a resident of Godipokhari village in Ranpur area of Nayagarh district, was allegedly kidnapped from Bhadrak district on February 7. He was working as a cameraman ‘Sampurna’ owned by Sarmistha. He was murdered at Dayal Ashram in Bhubaneswar, where the web channel was being operated, and the body was dumbed in Nayagarh district. His body was exhumed from Badhipatna hills in Nayagarh district on March 12, a month after he went missing from Chandbali area in Bhadrak district.
