Berhampur Court Delivers Life Sentences in Six-Year-Old Murder Case
A local court in Berhampur has delivered a significant verdict, awarding life imprisonment to five individuals found guilty of murdering a 66-year-old businessman. The crime occurred approximately six years ago in the Hillpatna area under the jurisdiction of the Gosaninuagaon police station.
Details of the Conviction and Penalties
The court, in addition to the life sentences, imposed a fine of Rs 13,000 on each convict. Failure to pay this amount will result in the convicts undergoing four months of rigorous imprisonment as an additional penalty. Public prosecutor Biswajit Baral confirmed that the verdict was pronounced after meticulously recording statements from 41 witnesses and reviewing all related documents.
Identification of the Convicts
The five individuals sentenced in this case have been identified as:
- Rupesh Padhy, aged 30
- Shiva Mahakuda, aged 29, from Neheru Nagar
- Ranjit Sahu, aged 29, from Bhismagiri
- Srinu Patra, aged 34
- Shankar Sahu, aged 31, from Berhampur
Background of the Crime
The incident took place on the intervening night of June 13 and 14, 2020. The convicts trespassed into the office-cum-residence of the victim, Lambodar Muni, who was a distributor of milk and milk products in Hillpatna. Their initial intent was burglary. During the break-in, they smothered Muni to death and fled with cash, gold ornaments, and other valuables estimated to be worth Rs 10 lakh.
Investigation and Evidence
Following the crime, police conducted a thorough investigation, leading to the arrest of the accused. The looted properties were recovered from them on various days. Notably, on December 1, 2023, the investigation was transferred to the crime branch of the state police as per the directions of the Orissa High Court, as stated by Baral.
The prosecution successfully built its case using a combination of oral and documentary evidence. Key pieces of evidence included:
- CCTV footage from the vicinity
- Call detail records (CDR) from the mobile numbers of the accused
Furthermore, the recovered items were positively identified as belonging to the deceased by his children, strengthening the case against the convicts.
Implications of the Verdict
This verdict underscores the judicial system's commitment to delivering justice in serious criminal cases, even those that span several years. The use of modern investigative tools like CCTV and CDR highlights the evolving nature of crime-solving in India. The case also reflects the collaborative efforts between local police and specialized crime branches under judicial oversight.
