Harassment, blackmail angles surface in Kendrapara girl student’s ‘suspicious’ death; FIR filed, probe deepens

Five days after the charred body of a Plus-3 student was discovered in Kendrapara district, the mystery over whether the girl took her own life or was murdered has intensified. The case took a decisive turn on Saturday when the victim’s father lodged a formal FIR against her boyfriend, accusing him of sustained harassment and blackmail that allegedly drove her to end her life.

According to Kendrapara SP Siddharth Kataria, the complaint, filed at Pattamundai Rural Police Station, names the accused as Pramod Behera.

The father has alleged that Behera not only subjected his daughter to mental torture but also sent her objectionable videos.

"The father has lodged an FIR against a man named Pramod Behera. He alleged that Behera harassed her daughter and blackmailed her with a video, which led her to take her own life,” said the SP.

High-Level Review and Interrogations

In a sign of the case’s growing complexity, Central Range IG Praveen Kumar arrived in the district on Saturday to assess the investigation’s progress. At the SP’s office, the senior officer reviewed evidence collected so far and the next steps in the probe.

The SP also interrogated the victim’s parents and brother, reportedly confronting them with the accused during questioning to reconcile conflicting statements.

From Crime Scene to Custody

The student’s death was reported last week when her burnt body was found tied to a grill gate in Pattamundai, a detail that raised doubts about whether she could have taken her own life.

The incident immediately sparked two competing narratives. The victim’s family has maintained that Behera’s harassment and blackmail drove her to take her own life or possibly murder, while the accused’s family has countered with allegations that the student’s father killed her and fabricated the blackmail story to frame Behera.

Police sources said Behera had been absconding since the day of the incident but was tracked to Chennai by a special team. On Friday, he was detained and brought to an undisclosed location for questioning. 

In parallel, the SP questioned the victim’s father, mother, and brother, as well as the accused’s mother and sister, who levelled the counter-allegations.

New Leads and Forensic Checks

Investigators say multiple new angles have emerged, though details have not been made public. Forensic experts are expected to revisit the crime scene for fresh evidence collection, while CCTV footage capturing “crucial moments” before the incident is under examination.

“We have obtained significant video evidence and will take appropriate action after careful review,” SP Kataria told reporters.

The investigation is also probing whether the victim could have physically tied herself to the grill gate before the fire, a logistical doubt that could tilt the case towards a murder charge. As of now, no breakthrough has been achieved.