Bhubaneswar: Former I&PR Director (Technical) Niranjan Sethi, co-accused in the cameraman Manas Swain murder case has admitted to having assaulted the latter in the office of Sampoorna, an Odia fortnightly and web channel run by prime accused Sarmistha Rout.
According to the Crime Branch which is investigating the heinous murder of cameraman Manas, during interrogation Niranjan has told that he used to regularly visit Dayal Ashram and Sampoorna office.
He has revealed that he had visited Sampoorna’s office at about 7 PM on February 7 and at that time Sarmistha, Jhuna Bhoi-Sarmistha’s accomplice, Jhuna’s husband, Raj alias Ranjan Nayak-proprietor of Raj Communications Khandagiri, one computer operator and Sharmistha’s sister-in-law were present in the office.
He has said that Manas was brought to Sampoorna office from Dayal Ashram and he had also assaulted Manas in the office and had left at around 10 PM.
Niranjan has revealed to the Crime Branch that on March 8 Sarmistha had visited his house at Prashanti Vihar and he had given her Rs 10,000 and had arranged a car for taking them to Kaliapani.
The Crime Branch has said that its Special team led by Investigating Officer (IO) of the case DSP Kalpana Sahoo had proceeded to Sampoorna office along with Niranjan and Sarmistha.
On reaching Sampoorna office, Niranjan led the team and demonstrated the various activities of the persons present in the office as on February 7. The Crime Branch has said that prime accused Sarmistha was taken to her rented accommodation which is very close to Sampoorna office.
The Crime Branch has recovered her mobile phone which she had left in the house before leaving.
The Crime Branch had taken four accused persons Sarmistha, Jhuna Bhoi, Niranjan, and Raj on a five-day remand in connection with cameraman Manas Swain’s murder case.
As their five-day remand ends today they will be produced in the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Chandbali on Sunday.
According to the Crime Branch, Sarmistha Friday has confessed to the crime during sustained interrogation by its special team.
Also Read: Sarmistha Confesses To Cameraman’s Murder While Reconstructing Crime Scene
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