'Disturbing dreams and guilt': IPS Arun Bothra’s post on ‘Nayagarh Pari rape and murder case’ sparks debate

Arun Bothra, a former Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) of Odisha Crime Branch (CID-CB) and a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, became the centre of a burgeoning debate following his post on the platform ‘X’ (previously known as Twitter), on Sunday.

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Without directly taking the name of much-debated Pari rape and murder case in Nayagarh, Bothra hinted on a tale of crime and conscience. The investigator uncovered some ‘haunting clues’ in the rape and murder case. The convicted boy’s nightmares hint at guilt.

Why Bothra's post triggered the dabate?

“Crime investigation is all about gathering evidence. After all, courts rely on evidence and its credibility to decide cases. Interestingly, at times, one comes across something that seems like strong evidence but still cannot be presented in court,” the senior cop wrote.

“I was supervising a case involving rape and murder of a five-year-old girl. A young boy was the prime suspect. With each interaction, it became increasingly clear that he was involved. One day, during a visit to his home to examine him, I found him lying in bed while his mother waved a lemon and green chillies over his head in a ritualistic manner. When I asked her about it, she said he’d been having disturbing dreams and she was performing a ‘desi totka’ to ward off evil spirits,” the cop mentioned in his social media post.

Bothra had asked 'what kind of evil spirit?' The convict’s mother had innocently replied that he’d been dreaming about the deceased girl—she doesn’t say anything in the dream, she just stares at him blankly. He wakes up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat and trembling, the IPS officer expressed.

“I left the house that day without examining him. But what I witnessed was a clear glimpse into his mental state—an unspoken admission of guilt.

"We continued the investigation for another two weeks. Eventually, during a polygraph test conducted by a forensic expert, the boy broke down, cried, and confessed. His admission, along with several other substantial and material evidence, led to his conviction. The court sentenced him to 20 years for rape and another 20 years for murder,” Bothra stated.

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No comments were received from the senior cop in this regard.