Delivering justice in a sensational crime, the 3rd District & Sessions Court in Bhubaneswar on Monday sentenced nine individuals to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of a man in the Balipatna area in 2024.
The court, presided over by Hon’ble Judge Shri Himansu Sekhar Mallick, found the main accused, Dilu Kumar Bhoi, and eight of his associates guilty of murder and criminal conspiracy. In addition to the life sentence, the court imposed a fine of ₹20,000 on each of the nine convicts. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional six months of rigorous imprisonment.
The conviction stems from Balipatna P.S. Case No. 160/2024, which was registered under Sections 302, 120-B, 341, and 323 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The gruesome incident occurred on the evening of March 23, 2024, between 7 and 7:30 PM. The complainant, Srabani Majhi, received information that the victim, Akshay Kumar Majhi, was being brutally assaulted by a group of attackers near the Gagi Fertilizer shop in Balipatna.
Upon rushing to the spot, family members rescued a critically injured Akshay, who revealed that the accused had collectively attacked him with various deadly weapons. He was immediately rushed to the Athantara CHC for primary care and later shifted to Hi-Tech Hospital in Bhubaneswar. Tragically, Akshay succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment later that night. Following his death, an FIR was lodged at the Balipatna Police Station.
The then Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of Balipatna Police Station, Suryanshu Sekhar Parhi, led the investigation, swiftly arresting all the suspects and filing a comprehensive chargesheet in court.
During the trial, Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Subhashree Jena represented the state. She examined a total of 10 key witnesses and presented compelling evidence, which ultimately proved the guilt of the accused beyond a reasonable doubt, leading to Monday’s verdict.
This ruling marks a significant milestone for local law enforcement. According to official data, while more than 100 cases saw convictions last year, this verdict marks the 108th successful conviction facilitated by the Bhubaneswar Urban Police District (UPD) in the current year.
