Court Acquits 'Spider Satheesh' in High-Profile Bhubaneswar Burglary Case
The high-profile burglary at former Congress president Niranjan Patnaik's upscale Nayapalli bungalow in Bhubaneswar has resurfaced in the news following the recent acquittal of the case's sole accused. Kari Satti Babu, popularly known as 'Spider Satheesh' for his alleged ability to scale buildings, was cleared of all charges on January 30, with the court order becoming available this Friday.
Flawed Investigation Leads to Acquittal
In a significant development, judicial magistrate first class (III) Karonika Ghose delivered the verdict, citing a flawed investigation by the commissionerate police and highlighting numerous inconsistencies in the prosecution's case. The magistrate observed, "The present case suffers from a number of procedural anomalies. The chain of circumstances is not established which would warrant a conviction of the accused. As there is no sufficient evidence on record against the accused, he is found not guilty."
Background of the Burglary Incident
The case dates back to January 26, 2025, when a family member of Niranjan Patnaik reported that an unidentified miscreant had fled with jewellery valued at approximately Rs 50 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh in cash. The incident sparked widespread outrage over policing standards in Bhubaneswar, prompting Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to personally intervene. Majhi spoke with Patnaik and instructed the police to conduct a thorough and flawless investigation.
Following the incident, Kari Satti Babu alias Satheesh Reddy (40) was arrested on February 13, 2025, with police claiming his involvement in the crime. However, the defence successfully challenged the prosecution's evidence.
Defence Arguments and Prosecution Lapses
Defence lawyer Subhransu Sekhar Udgata argued that the prosecution had pressed for conviction based on the seizure of allegedly stolen ornaments and cash. "However, the defence could counter this as there were no independent witnesses. Even the raid that led to the seizure was unreliable and doubtful. The submission of CCTV footage was faulty, and the circumstances of the arrest itself were questionable," Udgata told media outlets.
The court order further detailed several critical lapses in the investigation, including:
- Absence of independent witnesses during seizures
- Contradictions in prosecution testimonies
- Non-submission of scientific team reports
- Failure to record the accused's confessional statement
- Lack of documentary evidence of previous convictions
Police Response and Future Actions
A senior police officer stated, "We will review the order and take appropriate action in consultation with our lawyer." Meanwhile, Niranjan Patnaik was unavailable for comment regarding the acquittal.
This case highlights ongoing concerns about investigative procedures and the importance of robust evidence collection in criminal proceedings. The acquittal of 'Spider Satheesh' underscores the judicial system's role in scrutinizing police work and ensuring justice based on concrete proof rather than circumstantial claims.
