Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court has granted conditional bail to former OT&AS trainee Bhimsen Prasad Tudu, who was arrested in connection with the alleged abetment of suicide of medical student Chandrika Hembram.
The court granted bail to Tudu against two sureties of Rs 50,000 each. He had been in judicial custody since his arrest on June 13.
During the hearing, Tudu’s counsel submitted that the police had completed their interrogation of the accused and filed the chargesheet in the case. The defence argued that his continued detention was no longer necessary for the purpose of investigation.
Tudu’s counsel further assured the court that Tudu would cooperate with the investigation, comply with the bail conditions and would neither abscond nor engage in any unlawful activity.
As part of the bail conditions, the court barred Tudu from meeting or communicating with witnesses in the case. It also said that if any witness finds that the condition has been violated, they can bring the matter to the court’s notice.
Tudu was taken on police remand twice during the investigation. Police questioned him about his relationship with Chandrika and their last meeting before her death.
Chandrika died by suicide on June 4, 2026, and her body was recovered from the Kathajodi river under Barang police limits in Odisha. After her body was identified, her family alleged that Tudu was responsible for circumstances that led to her death, following which police registered a case against him for alleged abetment of suicide.
Tudu, who was then undergoing training under OT&AS, reportedly went missing after the case was registered. Police subsequently arrested him from Mayurbhanj on June 13.
During the investigation, police found that Tudu and Chandrika had met while they were staying in Bhubaneswar and had also met shortly before her death. Tudu was accused of having a physical relationship with Chandrika after allegedly assuring her that he would marry her. The investigation subsequently alleged that he refused to marry her.
Following his arrest, Tudu was suspended on the direction of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The state government had also announced that he would not be considered for any government job in the future.
