In a dramatic breakthrough, Puri police have cracked the mysterious death of Parshuram Pradhan, whose charred body was discovered at his home in Mandarbasta under Kanas police station limits.
On Sunday, Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh confirmed the arrest of two main accused and one accomplice, lifting the veil on a chilling tale of greed, deception, and cold-blooded revenge.
The case began on August 13 when Kanakalata Sethi, the victim’s wife, filed a written complaint alleging that her husband had been murdered and his body set on fire. Acting on the directions of the Puri SP, multiple investigation teams were formed. With the help of a scientific team, officers examined the crime scene, scrutinised CCTV footage, and questioned villagers and people connected to the incident.
Investigators soon discovered that Parshuram, who practised various rituals and spiritual activities, lived alone on the outskirts of the village due to strained relations with locals. The probe zeroed in on three men: Rajkishore Sahu, Satyabrata Mallik, and Suresh Sahu.
According to police, Rajkishore ran a fast-food shop in Khordha, while his younger brother Suresh stayed in the village. Another brother, Rakesh, operated a tiffin shop. Family tensions allegedly arose over Rakesh’s relationship with a young woman. Around this time, Rajkishore learned of Parshuram’s spiritual practices and approached him.
Rajkishore first handed over ₹19,000 to Parshuram. The spiritual practitioner then claimed that a 1,700-gram pure gold idol of Goddess Durga lay buried on his land. To dig it out, he needed more money. Over time, Parshuram extracted nearly ₹2 lakh from Rajkishore.
When the promised idol never materialised and the money was not returned, Rajkishore’s frustration boiled over. On the night of August 11, around 9:30 pm, Rajkishore and Satyabrata arrived at Parshuram’s house carrying a bag containing chilli powder, about half a litre of petrol, and a sharp knife. They coordinated with Suresh, who was dropped near Mandarbasta.
The three confronted Parshuram and demanded their money back. When he could not pay, they attacked him, bound his hands and feet, and set him on fire before fleeing the scene.
Police have registered case number 184/2026 at Kanas police station. From the arrested accused, investigators seized mobile phones, a knife, a motorcycle, and other incriminating items. The investigation continues as authorities piece together the full sequence of events that turned a fraudulent treasure tale into a horrific murder.
