TV
In a dramatic turn of events in one of Odisha’s most sensational criminal cases, a Cuttack court on Thursday acquitted dreaded gangster duo Sushil and Sushant Dhalasamanta, popularly known as the D-brothers, along with eight others, in the 2013 Dipu and Om double murder case.
The District and Sessions Judge Court in Cuttack cited a lack of sufficient evidence as the reason for the acquittal, bringing closure to a high-profile case that had captivated public attention for over a decade.
Case Background: Gruesome Murders That Shook Cuttack
On November 12, 2013, Deepak Mallick (alias Dipu) and Om Prakash Swain (alias Om)—former associates and friends of the D-brothers—were brutally murdered. The incident reportedly took place at a farmhouse near Ansupa in Athagarh, where the victims were allegedly killed in cold blood.
In a chilling effort to erase evidence, their bodies were transported to West Singhbhum district in Jharkhand, where they were set ablaze and buried. The crime bore all the hallmarks of underworld execution, making headlines across the state.
Legal Proceedings: Arrests and Trial
The Dhalasamanta brothers, who were allegedly running a vast extortion and crime syndicate in Cuttack and beyond, were arrested in 2016 in connection with this case and others. Their arrest had sparked a major crackdown on organized crime in the region.
Despite years of police investigations, witness depositions, and forensic examinations, the prosecution was unable to substantiate the charges with conclusive evidence. On June 26, 2025, the court ruled that the evidence failed to establish the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt, leading to the acquittal of all 10 accused.
Related Cases: A Pattern of Legal Escapes
This is not the first time the Dhalasamanta brothers have walked free in a high-profile murder case. In 2023, they were also acquitted in the murder of Sheikh Farooq, a wholesale pulses trader from Cuttack’s Malgodown area. Farooq was gunned down in his shop in 2014, allegedly by contract killers hired by the brothers for refusing to pay a ₹30 lakh extortion demand.
Once again, the court had found insufficient prosecutorial evidence, leading to the collapse of the case.
Still Convicted in Arms Case
Although acquitted in multiple murder cases, the D-brothers remain convicted in a separate illegal arms possession case. During their arrest, a significant cache of arms and ammunition was reportedly seized from their residence, forming the basis of that conviction. This ensures that the brothers are still not entirely free from legal consequences.
Reactions and Implications
The acquittal has reignited public discourse around:
- Effectiveness of law enforcement and prosecution in organized crime cases
- Witness protection mechanisms in high-risk criminal trials
- The delicate balance between due process and justice delivery
While supporters of the judicial process argue that the verdict reinforces the principle of “innocent until proven guilty,” critics voice concern over repeated acquittals in serious criminal cases due to procedural shortcomings.
Justice Delivered or Justice Denied?
The acquittal of the Dhalasamanta brothers in the 2013 Dipu and Om murder case underscores the complex challenges in prosecuting organized crime in India. Despite the shocking nature of the crime and strong public sentiment, the case ultimately fell apart due to the lack of legally admissible evidence.
For now, the D-brothers remain behind bars on arms-related convictions, but the shadow of their alleged criminal past continues to loom large over Odisha’s criminal justice narrative. The case serves as a critical reminder of the need for robust investigations, timely prosecution, and judicial accountability in high-stakes criminal matters.
