By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Police nabbed brother of prime accused Sarmistha Rout, who is still at large. Police apprehended Parameswar Rout, Sarmistha’s brother, from Vijayawada in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Pararemswar had allegedly planned for his sister’s escape following murder of Manas Swain.
Police have carried out raids at multiple places in Bhubaneswar to trace Sarmista Rout, the prime accused in the kidnapping and murder of cameraman Swain. Bhadrak Police with the help of Commisionerate police is carrying out Rout’s house and office in state capital. Bhadrak SP Charan Singh Meena said, searches have been intensified and efforts are on to nab Sarmista Rout and her associate, “both of whom have absconded
Meanwhile, Trouble continued to haunt mysterious woman journalist, Sarmistha Rout with the Orissa High Court has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Sarmistha Rout, the prime accused in cameraman Manas Swain murder case.
In a bid to avoid possible arrest, Sarmistha had moved the High Court seeking anticipatory bail. Police have already arrested 5 persons including former Information & Public Relation (I&PR) Director (Technical) Niranjan Sethi and his associate Ranjan Nayak, Bhagyadhar Nayak, Vivek Nayak and Krushna Chandra Nayak. The accused have been booked under under Sections 363/364/302/465/471/201/34 of the Indian Penal Code and forwarded to the court.
Rout’s photos with arrested Sethi, BJD Ministers like Capt Dibya Mishra, Pratap Jena and Aul MLA Pratap Deb have gone viral in social media with demands for a high level probe into this issue and as well as Sethi’s tenure as Director Technical.
Web Portal Sampoorna TV and magazine, owner and cameraman Manas Swain murder accused, Sharmistha Rout, had successfully, registered her organisation to Government advertisement showing her magazine’s circulation around 15,000 on last day of Sethi’s retirement and some believed , the officer might have gone sexual favour from the key accused Rout, who has an very controversial background since her College Days.
Sarmishta is believed to be the mastermind behind the murder case. Chandbali police had raided Sharmistha’s house in Aul area in Kendrapara district. Mother of the deceased, Jamuna Swain had sought CM Naveen Patnaik’s help for justice in the case.
Manas, a resident of Godipokhari village in Ranpur area of Nayagarh, worked as a cameraman in a Bhubaneswar-based web portal, Sampoorna, run by one Sharmistha Rout.On February 7, Manas had gone to shoot a wedding in Chandbali area of Bhadrak but went missing under mysterious circumstances. On March 12, the Chandbali police, with help of a team of cops from Ranpur, recovered the body of Manas from Badhipatna hills in Rajsunakhala area of Nayagarh.
