Lensman Murder: Prime Accused, Aide Sent To Judicial Custody

Sarmistha Rout, the main accused in the sensational murder of cameraman Manas Swain and her associate Jhuna Bhoi were sent to 14-day judicial custody following completion of their police remand on Thursday.

The pair was produced before Chandbali court today after their 3-day second-phase remand came to an end. The court sent them to judicial custody.

In the second phase remand, the Crime Branch (CB) reportedly elicited some fresh information from the accused. The CB said Manas had demanded Rs 10,000 from Niranjan Sethi, the retired Odisha Information Service Officer, one of the key accused in the case.

As per police sources, Manas had been staying at Dayal Ashram under Air Field Police limits in Bhubaneswar since January 10. On January 30, Sarmistha and Niranjan had called Manas to Sampurna News office where they had demanded the memory chip. Failing to get it, they assaulted Manas in her office and took him to the Dayal Ashram where they took the camera before leaving him.

However, the camera was reportedly not carrying the memory chip. When Sarmistha asked Manas for the whereabouts of the chip, the latter reportedly demanded money and his camera back in exchange of the device which further irked Sarmistha.

Manas was finally abducted by Sarmistha and her associates on February 5 when he was returning from a wedding party in Basudevpur, Bhadrak and subsequently killed.

The CB team following extensive interrogation of Sarmistha Rout has reportedly concluded that the memory chip was not with her. Sarmistha could not find out the whereabouts of the memory chip that Manas allegedly possessed before his death.

The Crime Branch had visited the home of the deceased in Ranapur of Nayagarh district on Monday searching for the chip. However, they had to return empty-handed.