Baripada: The Additional Sessions Judge (I) Court in Baripada on Tuesday sentenced Mangal Marndi, 35, from Uchhagaon under Jharpokharia police limits, to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of murdering his wife and two children.
In addition to the life sentence, the court imposed a fine of Rs 52,000 on Marndi. On default to pay, he will face an additional nine months in prison. The sentence was issued following the examination of statements from 24 witnesses, a medical report, and other evidence.
The case details reveal that Marndi and his wife had frequent quarrels due to his alleged extramarital affair.
Late on the night of May 13, 2022, Marndi set their house on fire.
Although neighbors alerted the Fire Service, which managed to extinguish the blaze, Marndi’s wife Surukuni, their 5-year-old daughter Sarita, and 3-year-old son Jagdish were already dead, having suffered severe burns.
Surukuni’s family subsequently lodged a complaint with the Jharpokharia police, alleging that the fire was a premeditated act of murder. Marndi was later arrested and charged in connection with the deaths.
