In a major development that marks the end of a decade-long legal battle, a Cuttack court on Thursday acquitted all eight accused in the sensational Dipu and Om murder case, citing a lack of conclusive evidence.
Among the acquitted are Sushant and Sushil Dhalasamanta—infamous siblings allegedly linked to a vast criminal syndicate operating in Odisha.
The case traces back to November 12, 2013, when Dipu and Om, reported to be close associates of the Dhalasamanta group, were allegedly abducted from Cuttack. According to the prosecution, the duo was taken to a farmhouse near Ansupa in Athagarh, where they were brutally assaulted and killed. Their bodies were then transported to West Singhbhum district in Jharkhand, where they were set ablaze and buried to erase evidence.
Over the years, the case garnered widespread attention for its ties to organised crime and its implications on law and order in the region. However, despite extensive investigations and court proceedings spanning over a decade, the prosecution failed to present irrefutable evidence linking the accused to the crime.
Legal analysts have noted that while the judgment highlights the burden of proof in criminal cases, it also raises questions about investigative shortcomings in high-profile cases. Meanwhile, the Dhalasamanta brothers, though cleared in this case, remain convicted in a separate illegal arms possession case.
The verdict brings a controversial chapter in Odisha’s criminal history to a close, though debates about justice, evidence, and investigative efficacy are likely to persist.
