In a dramatic development in the sensational murder case of 25-year-old woman traffic constable Shubhamitra, Odisha Police has elevated the case to the ‘Red Flag’ category, signaling a fast-tracked, high-priority investigation.
Crime Branch sources confirmed that the probe will now take place under the direct supervision of the Crime Branch DGP. The agency will work closely with Commissionerate Police, thoroughly re-examining all evidence and inputs earlier collected by Capital Police Station and Khuntuni Police Station to tighten the case against prime accused Deepak Raut.
In a significant move, the Crime Branch has also decided to link the mysterious death of Deepak Raut’s first wife, Aparna, with the Shubhamitra murder probe for a comprehensive, high-level inquiry.
The case has sparked public outrage after Shubhamitra’s decomposed body was found on September 17 in Keonjhar, 11 days after she went missing. The Crime Against Women (CAW) & Child Welfare (CW) Unit will also monitor the investigation to ensure justice is delivered.
What a ‘Red Flag’ Case Means:
Former senior police officer Amaresh Panda explained that Red Flag cases are those where the charge sheet must be submitted within 60 days of FIR registration. Once submitted, the marshalling officer ensures the presence of prosecution witnesses in court on time, expediting the trial process.
Timeline of the Case:
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Sept 6: Shubhamitra goes missing after duty in Surya Nagar, Bhubaneswar; family files complaint.
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Sept 12–13: No breakthrough; police release her photograph and announce ₹25,000 reward.
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Sept 17 (Early Morning): Clerk Deepak Raut detained after CCTV footage shows him travelling with her towards Keonjhar.
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Sept 17 (Morning): Woman’s body found stuffed in a sack near Ghatagaon, Keonjhar.
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Sept 17 (Afternoon): Police confirm Deepak strangled Shubhamitra; motive linked to money disputes and a ₹1 crore insurance policy.
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Sept 17 (Evening): Commissioner confirms financial motive; Deepak undergoes polygraph test.
