Bhubaneswar: An Additional District court in Ganjam on Wednesday sentenced two persons, including a 27-year-old woman, to life imprisonment for murdering a mother and her 7-year-old son in Jarada area last year.
Additional District Judge Sangeeta Pani pronounced the verdict against G. Devendra and D. Gunnama, both residents of Chudialanjia village, for the killing of D. Neelabeni, 28, and her son D. Rushi on February 19, 2024.According to Additional Public Prosecutor Santoshini Purohit, the court convicted the duo after examining 39 witnesses, including police personnel, and reviewing key evidence and documents.
Police had recovered the bodies of Neelabeni and her son Rushi from their home under Jarada police station limits on February 19, 2024. The bodies were sent for post-mortem. Neelabeni’s husband, D. Mohan Reddy, was working abroad at the time.
As per the prosecution, the motive was to silence Neelabeni after she allegedly discovered an illicit relationship between the two accused, who are relatives of the deceased woman. Police said Neelabeni had threatened to inform her husband about the relationship.
To prevent this, Devendra allegedly conspired with Gunnama to eliminate her.
Investigators said on the evening of February 18, 2024, Gunnama went to Neelabeni’s house and secretly unlocked the terrace door. Later that night, Devendra entered the house through the rear entrance and allegedly strangled Neelabeni to death.
Her son Rushi woke up and saw the incident. Fearing he would reveal what happened, the accused allegedly smothered the 7-year-old as well.
Jarada police registered a case and arrested Devendra and Gunnama on February 26, 2024. Both have remained in judicial custody since, after their bail applications were rejected, Purohit said.
