Rayagada: Former Rajya Sabha member N. Bhaskar Rao surrendered before the Rayagada Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Court on Monday in connection with the high-profile 2010 murder of Bhagirathi Mandangi, following a Supreme Court order cancelling his anticipatory bail. Following his surrender he was sent to Rayagada Sub Jail.
The Supreme Court had set aside the anticipatory bail granted to Rao by the Orissa High Court on January 22, 2026, and directed him to surrender before the SDJM Court within two weeks. The apex court passed the order while hearing a petition filed by the original complainant, Jagannath Mandangi, challenging the High Court’s decision.
Hundreds of supporters of Rao reportedly visited his residence ahead of his surrender on Monday.
Besides Rao, Eipili Sanyasi Raju, Adinarayan Rao, K. Krishna Rao and P. Dileep Kumar are also accused in the murder case. An FIR was registered at Rayagada police station on December 23, 2010 (Case No. 208/2010), invoking IPC Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 364 (kidnapping) and 34 (common intention).
The investigation was subsequently transferred to the Crime Branch, which registered the case as No. 10/2011 at the Kataka CID-CB police station on April 5, 2011.
Meanwhile, Rao is also facing scrutiny in a separate financial irregularities case. On November 7, an Economic Offences Wing (EOW) team conducted searches at 11 locations linked to him in connection with allegations of misappropriation of ₹60 crore by the Truck Owners’ Association. The case was initially registered at Rayagada police station.
Rao, who has been active in non-Congress politics for over five decades, resigned from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) last year and subsequently launched the Biju Swabhiman Manch. He had also announced plans to field candidates in the upcoming panchayat elections.
His surrender in the long-pending murder case has triggered considerable discussion in political circles in Odisha.
