Bhubaneswar, Nov 12: In a major development in the sensational murder of a senior citizen in Bhubaneswar, a local court in Surat has granted transit remand of the prime accused, Balabhadra Maharana (41), who was arrested while absconding.

As per the transit warrant issued on November 11 by the 8th Additional Senior Civil Judge and ACJM, Surat (P.S. Sindhi), custody of Maharana has been handed over to Sub-Inspector Subhasmita Muduli of Laxminagar Police Station, Bhubaneswar.

The court has permitted Odisha Police to keep the accused in transit custody from 2 pm on November 11 until 11 am on November 16. It has directed the police to produce him before the nearest Magistrate by the deadline and before the concerned court in Bhubaneswar if they reach earlier.

Maharana was apprehended in a joint operation by the Surat Crime Branch and Vadodara Special Squad. He was reportedly caught near a hotel on National Highway-48 while allegedly attempting to escape to Delhi by bus.

The case relates to the murder of Kunjalata, wife of retired DFO Hadibandhu Nanda. She was allegedly killed on the night of November 3, and her blood-soaked body was discovered in her bedroom the following morning. Cash and gold ornaments were reportedly missing from an almirah.

Maharana, who had worked as her caretaker for four to five months, allegedly went missing after the incident and switched off his mobile phone. Further investigation is underway.

Powered by Froala Editor