Bhubaneswar: The year 2025 proved to be a troubling one for Odisha, with a series of shocking and heart-wrenching crime incidents that left the state reeling. From brutal murders and cases of rape and gang-rape to self-immolations, cybercrime, and violent group clashes, no corner of the state seemed untouched.
These incidents not only shocked local communities but also drew widespread media attention, sparking debates over public safety and law enforcement.
Here’s a detailed look at the top 11 crimes that dominated headlines in Odisha in 2025.
Adopted Mother Killed (Paralakhemundi, April 29, 2025)
The first shocking case of the year occurred in Paralakhemundi town of Gajapati district. Fifty-four-year-old Rajalaxmi Kar, who had adopted a baby girl after finding her abandoned on a roadside when she was just three days old, was smothered to death at her rented house by the girl she had raised and two of her male friends. The teenage girl reportedly gave Rajalaxmi sleeping pills so she became unconscious. Then the three smothered her with pillows and later took her body to a hospital, where she was declared dead.
After the killing, they tried to cover up the crime by claiming she had died of a heart attack and cremated her body on April 30, 2025, in Bhubaneswar, where some of her relatives lived. Since Rajalaxmi had a history of heart disease, the family initially believed the story.
However, the truth began to emerge when the girl’s uncle discovered her hidden mobile phone in Bhubaneswar, which contained Instagram Messenger conversations detailing the plan to murder Rajalaxmi and steal her property, including gold ornaments and cash. Based on this discovery, on May 8, 2025, Rajalaxmi’s brother lodged a formal FIR at Paralakhemundi police station, and a police investigation was launched.
On May 16, 2025, the Odisha Police arrested the three accused — the girl (Class 8, around 13–14 years old) and her two male friends, 21-year-old Ganesh Rath and 20-year-old Dinesh Sahu — for the murder of Rajalaxmi Kar. They were accused of smothering her to death with the motive of gaining control of her property and continuing the teenage girl’s romantic relationship, which Rajalaxmi had opposed.
During the investigation, police recovered three mobile phones with incriminating chats, the pillows used in the killing, and about 30 grams of stolen gold ornaments. Some of the gold had been pawned for around Rs 2.4 lakh, reportedly used to buy a motorcycle.
Gopalpur Gang-Rape (Ganjam, June 15, 2025)
On the evening of June 15, 2025, a 20-year-old female college student was visiting Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district with her male classmate during the ‘Raja festival’, when a group of about 10 men surrounded them at a secluded spot. The attackers restrained and tied up her friend and then allegedly took turns to gang-rape her, after which they fled the scene.
The survivor filed an FIR with the Gopalpur police station the next day. Police quickly arrested all 10 suspects, including four minors. The adults were later remanded to judicial custody, while the minors were sent to juvenile homes. The case was declared a “red flag” case and handed over to the Crime Against Women & Children Wing of the Odisha Crime Branch, which collected forensic and digital evidence and conducted medical examinations. A Test Identification Parade (TI parade) was held, where the survivor identified six adult accused.
Fakir Mohan College Self-Immolation (Balasore, July 12, 2025)
In early July 2025, 20-year-old second-year Integrated B.Ed student Soumyashree Bisi at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore began complaining of sexual harassment and intimidation by her Head of Department (HoD), Samira Kumar Sahu. She alleged that the HoD demanded favours and threatened her academically. Soumyashree wrote to the college and tried to raise the issue with the principal and authorities, including on social media, but felt her grievances were ignored, and that the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) did not take effective action.
On July 12, 2025, feeling neglected and desperate after inaction on her complaints, she set herself on fire on the college campus, outside the principal’s office. She suffered 90–95% burns and was rushed first to a local hospital and then to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for intensive care.
In response, the Odisha Government suspended the college principal, Dillip Kumar Ghosh, and the accused HoD, citing prima facie negligence in handling her complaints. The NHRC also took cognizance of the case, directed local authorities to ensure proper medical care, and sought an action-taken report.
Despite treatment, she tragically succumbed to her injuries on the night of July 14, 2025, prompting statewide sorrow, protests, class suspensions at the college, and calls for justice from political leaders and student groups. Following her death, local police initially arrested the HoD and the principal on charges including abetment to suicide. The Crime Branch took over the investigation to examine institutional failures and other possible roles of individuals.
On August 4, 2025, the Crime Branch arrested two more persons — including an FM College student and a student organisation leader — on allegations of instigating or abetting the self-immolation, bringing the total number of those detained to four. The police filed a comprehensive chargesheet in early September 2025 before a Balasore court, including statements from over 120 witnesses and digital evidence.
Balanga Minor Case (Puri, July 19, 2025)
On July 19, 2025, a 15-year-old girl from the Balanga area in Puri district was reportedly set on fire while on her way to a friend’s house by three unidentified assailants near the Bhargavi River. She suffered severe burn injuries (70–75% of her body). Eyewitnesses said she was waylaid, doused with an inflammable substance, and set ablaze. Villagers rushed her to a local hospital and then to AIIMS Bhubaneswar in critical condition.
The Odisha government ordered an urgent police investigation and promised to cover her medical expenses. Over the following days, the case drew widespread attention and protests, including a six-hour bandh in Puri called by the BJD opposition party demanding justice and criticising the handling of the case.
Despite initial reports of an attack by miscreants, Odisha Police later stated their investigation had reached its final stage and concluded that, based on available evidence, “no other person was involved” in her death.
The minor girl was airlifted to AIIMS Delhi for advanced treatment but succumbed to her injuries on August 2, 2025. In September 2025, the Chief Minister clarified in the Odisha Assembly that the Balanga incident was a case of self-immolation and not an attack by others.
Pattamundai Student Self-Immolation Case (Kendrapara, August 6, 2025)
In Kathiapada village under Pattamundai Rural police limits, a final-year Plus-3 college girl was found badly burnt inside her home and later declared dead. Her father attempted to break down the door upon seeing flames engulf her, but she could not be saved. The circumstances of the fire raised serious questions, and police investigated whether it was a case of self-immolation or foul play.
The girl’s father alleged that she had been mentally harassed and blackmailed by her former boyfriend, Pramod Behera, who allegedly threatened to circulate her private photos and videos. He had approached the local police with a complaint about six months earlier, but no formal action was taken, adding to the family’s distress.
Following the discovery of the charred body, Kendrapara police detained and later formally arrested the accused boyfriend. They reportedly recovered obscene videos, photos, and mobile phone evidence that were suspected to be used for blackmailing in the months leading up to her death.
On August 20, 2025, the NHRC took suo motu cognizance of the case, issuing a notice to the Odisha DGP seeking a detailed report on the investigation, circumstances surrounding her death, allegations of blackmail, police inaction, and violation of her rights.
Constable Subhamitra Sahoo Murder Case (Bhubaneswar/Keonjhar, September 6, 2025)
Traffic constable Subhamitra Sahoo (25), a native of Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district and posted in Bhubaneswar, went missing on September 6, 2025, after leaving home for duty. When she did not return, her mother lodged a missing person complaint on September 7, prompting a police search and investigation.
During the probe, police discovered that she had married fellow police constable Deepak Kumar Rout (39) in July 2024. Since she was last seen with him, he became the prime suspect in her disappearance.
On September 17, 2025, Subhamitra’s decomposed body was exhumed from a jungle in the Ghatagaon area of Keonjhar district, about 170 km from Bhubaneswar, after investigators located it buried near the homes of two associates. It was established that she had been strangled to death by Deepak on the evening of September 6 and transported before burial.
In the days following the recovery, police arrested three accused in connection with the murder: Deepak Kumar Rout, the prime accused and Subhamitra’s husband, along with Binod Bihari Bhuyan (38), a close relative of Rout, and Sambhunath Mahanta (23), both accused of aiding in the crime and burial. The Odisha Police subsequently classified the case as a “Red Flag” case on September 19, 2025, to ensure a fast-track, high-priority investigation and close supervision.
Investigators also uncovered that disputes over money — including disagreements about funds for a formal wedding ceremony and large sums lent by Subhamitra to Deepak — may have triggered the murder.
Police also reopened inquiries into the death of Deepak’s first wife, earlier believed to be an accident, after finding new evidence suggesting it may also have been a murder linked to insurance and financial motives.
Odisha Police SI Exam Scam (October 1, 2025)
In late September 2025, Odisha police uncovered a major fraud linked to the Odisha Police Sub-Inspector recruitment exam (CPSE-2024). On the night of September 30, Berhampur police intercepted three buses carrying 117 people, of whom 114 were SI aspirants allegedly headed to a location in Andhra Pradesh to get “special coaching” and possibly question papers for the upcoming exam. This was believed to be part of an organised racket promising corrupt access in exchange for large sums of money. The arrests of these 114 aspirants and three suspected brokers led to the postponement of the exam scheduled for October 5–6, 2025.
On October 5, 2025, the State Crime Branch arrested Arabinda Das (43) of Balasore, one of the accused linked to the scam, and registered cases under multiple sections of law related to illicit question access and unfair means.
As investigations progressed, on October 17, 2025, the Crime Branch detained Muna Mohanty and Rinku Moharana, key associates of the alleged mastermind, Shankar Prusty, for approaching candidates on his behalf. Around October 18, police arrested Munna Mohanty, Abhimanyu Dora, Srikant Maharana, and Soumya Priyadarshini Samant from Nayagarh district in connection with the scam. Evidence suggested that candidates had paid lakhs of rupees to the racket in exchange for illegal assistance.
On November 1, 2025, a major breakthrough occurred when the Crime Branch arrested Shankar Prusty, the alleged mastermind of the entire syndicate, who had been evading arrest and was located near the Nepal border in Uttarakhand. He was produced before court along with Suresh Chandra Nayak, head of Silicon Techlab Pvt. Ltd., a firm involved in the exam process. Both were remanded for further interrogation.
As the probe deepened, evidence emerged that the scam involved collusion between middlemen, tech firms contracted to conduct parts of the exam process, and a broader organised network aimed at leaking confidential recruitment materials. In early December 2025, after the investigation was taken over by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the first arrest by the agency was made — Biranchi Kumar Nayak, a key middleman alleged to have supervised operations, especially in the Digha module. The CBI is now expanding the inquiry and may seek remand for others including Prusty, Munna Mohanty, and Suresh Nayak to uncover deeper conspiratorial links and any possible involvement of officials.
Pitabasa Panda Murder Case (Berhampur, October 6, 2025)
On the night of October 6, 2025, senior advocate and prominent BJP leader Pitabasa Panda was shot dead near his residence in the Brahma Nagar area of Berhampur in Ganjam district.
Police said two bike-borne assailants fired directly at him as he was returning home from dinner. Panda sustained fatal gunshot wounds to the chest and was rushed to MKCG Medical College & Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Following the assassination, police cordoned off the area and launched a major investigation. CCTV footage from around Berhampur was collected to track the movements of the shooters. Investigators interviewed more than 50 people, including locals and individuals who were with Panda before the attack. Special teams were formed, and police worked round-the-clock, scanning over 100 hours of footage from more than 60 cameras to identify suspects.
As the investigation progressed, the Berhampur police made several high-profile arrests.
On October 22, 2025, 12 persons were arrested, including former BJD MLA Bikram Kumar Panda (also former president of BJD Ganjam district), ex-Mayor of Berhampur Municipal Corporation Siba Shankar Dash, and other associates such as Madan Mohan Dalai, Jogendra Raut, Kalucharan Bhuyan, Bipin Swain, and Kundan Kumar. Police claimed that these arrests were linked to long-standing personal, political, and financial rivalries between the accused and Pitabasa Panda.
Later reports stated that a total of around 16 people had been taken into custody as probing continued.
Investigations revealed that the murder was not random but planned, with motives rooted in political rivalry and personal enmity. Reports suggested that former MLA Bikram Panda and Siba Shankar Dash allegedly conspired due to years of conflict with Pitabasa over political and legal matters.
Investigators also revealed that the shooters had been recruited through a chain of contacts. The alleged plot involved a promise of Rs 50 lakh for killing Panda, hiring of hitmen for an advance payment of Rs 10,000 each, and instructions to avoid using phones to evade detection during the attack. In early November 2025, police recreated the crime scene with two alleged shooters, Chintu Pradhan and Kurupati Bhuyan, to piece together how the attack unfolded. Additional arrests of suspects, including Uma Bisoyi (implicated in hiring the shooters), were made after intensive searches near the Odisha–Andhra Pradesh border.
In mid-December 2025, a local court rejected the bail applications of key accused, and a Test Identification (TI) parade for about 16 accused was also organised, allowing witnesses to formally identify suspects involved in the crime.
Malkangiri Violence (December 4, 2025)
On December 4, 2025, the headless body of 51-year-old tribal woman Lake Podiami was found in the Poteru River near Rakhelguda village, after she had been missing for several days. This triggered strong suspicion of murder within the community.
Between December 7–8, anger escalated into violence when tribal villagers from nearby areas alleged the involvement of people from the MV-26 settlement. They marched toward the settlement carrying traditional weapons. The protest turned violent, leading to arson, vandalism, and attacks on houses and property.
To prevent the spread of rumors, the authorities imposed prohibitory orders and suspended internet services from December 8.
On December 9, the police arrested Sukh (Subha) Ranjan Mondal, a 42-year-old resident of MV-26, naming him the prime accused in the murder case. However, protests continued, and the area was placed under heavy security deployment.
By December 13, the police confirmed that 18 people had been arrested in connection with the violence and arson that took place during the protests. The murder case against Sukh Ranjan was reportedly being fast-tracked, supported by forensic evidence.
In the following days, the situation slowly stabilised. Peace talks were held by Odisha ministers, and residents gradually began returning home. While overall calm was restored, investigations and legal proceedings continued under administrative vigilance.
Dhauli Minor Gang-Rape (Bhubaneswar, December 10, 2025)
On December 10, 2025, a 17-year-old college student was allegedly gang-raped near the Dhauli area on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar while returning from an outing with a male cousin.
According to police, the group intercepted them near the bank of the Daya River / Lingipur canal road, assaulted the boy, and then abducted and attacked the girl, robbing her of gold jewellery before fleeing.
The disturbing incident sparked immediate outrage, and local authorities registered a case, classifying it as a “Red Flag” case to ensure priority investigation. In the days that followed, on December 14–15, 2025, two suspects — Bibhu Prasad Mishra and Kalandi (Kalia) Patra — were arrested by Bhubaneswar police in connection with the case, even as the hunt continued for other involved individuals.
On December 18, 2025, police made a significant breakthrough by arresting the prime accused, Satya Prakash Hati (also known as “Happy”), from Ganjam district. Law enforcement teams recreated the crime scene to establish the sequence of events and strengthen the investigation.
Chandbali Minor Rape & Murder Case (Bhadrak, December 23, 2025)
On December 23, 2025 (Tuesday), a 10-year-old Class III girl from Baligaon village under Chandbali police limits in Bhadrak district went missing after leaving home in the afternoon. Later that evening, her blood-soaked body was found near a bush in a forested area close to the Baligaon Panchayat office.
Family members and locals alleged that she had been raped and murdered. Police were immediately informed and launched a search and investigation after the missing-person report.
The incident quickly drew widespread outrage and protests, including road blockades and demonstrations by residents demanding justice.
On December 24, 2025, the Odisha Police arrested the prime accused, identified as Bablu Das, from Jagatsinghpur district — within about 24 hours of the incident. In the ensuing public fury, locals demolished the accused’s house in Rampali village.
Police also detained several other people for questioning as part of the probe, and authorities labelled the case a “Red Flag” case to ensure expedited investigation and priority handling.
Political opposition parties, including the BJD and Congress, observed a six-hour bandh in the Chandbali block on December 26, 2025, to protest the crime and demand higher compensation for the victim’s family.
They rejected the Rs 10 lakh assistance announced by the Chief Minister and called for stricter accountability and action from the state government.
These are the major 11 gruesome and shocking crimes that shook Odisha in 2025, leaving a deep impact on the state’s residents and raising urgent questions about public safety, law enforcement, and justice.
