Puri: Additional District & Sessions Judge Court of Puri on Saturday convicted three key accused—Baraju, Jaga, and Kapila in the high-profile 2017 lawyer Chandan Behera murder case and sentenced them to life imprisonment for their roles in the brutal killing.
Chandan Behera, a practicing lawyer and owner of Sai Kutir Lodge, was murdered in cold blood on January 8, 2017, at Khusi Hotel, located in front of the Puri Bar.
The investigation revealed a deeply premeditated conspiracy orchestrated by Chandan’s wife, Nibedita Behera, along with her alleged partner Narendra Nath Das, also known as Litu.
The plot was planned nearly six months in advance, involving the direct participation of Jaga, Kapila, and Baraju.
On the day of the murder, Chandan entered Sai Kutir Lodge unaware of the fatal trap set for him. Jaga and Kapila attacked him with sharp weapons, while Baraju delivered a fatal blow to his head. Chandan succumbed to his injuries on the spot.
Further investigations uncovered that the murder weapons had been brought into the lodge an hour prior and hidden with the help of Kamalakantha Das, a lodge employee.
Chillingly, just three days before the incident, on January 5, a notarized agreement was prepared in Puri stating that, following Chandan’s death, Nibedita and her child’s guardianship and property would pass to Litu, indicating a clear financial and custodial motive.
CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and witness testimonies played a crucial role in unravelling the plot and confirming the timeline of events.
Following the murder, Puri police arrested several individuals connected to the conspiracy. Apart from the convicted trio, the accused included Nibedita Behera, lodge employee Kamalakantha Das, Jaga’s brother Somanath Bhatta, and associates Prabhul Behera and Rabindra Behera, who provided shelter to the perpetrators.
There were also discussions during the investigation about the possible involvement of two local journalists, though their exact role remains unclear.
The case, marked by betrayal, greed, and calculated violence, had rocked Puri’s legal community and the public alike. With the latest conviction, the judiciary has delivered a measure of closure to a case that has lingered in public memory for years.
