Seaways GM murder: Mahima, aide sent to jail

Bhubaneswar: Managing director of Orissa Stevedores Limited (OSL) Mahimananda Mishra and his aide Basant Bal were sent to Samagol jail in Jagatsinghpur district on Tuesday in connection with the sensational murder of Mahendra Swain, the general manager of Seaways Shipping and Logististics Limited (SSLL) after court rejected their bail pleas.

Police which lodged the duo in Paradip jail last night, produced them before the office-cum-residence of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Kujang in the morning. Later lawyers of both Mishra and Bal applied for their bail, which the court rejected.

Later in the evening, both Mahima, and his aide Basant were admitted to Jagatsinghpur DHH after their health condition deteriorated in Samagola Jail.

According to sources, Mahima complained of high blood pressure and chest pain.

Meanwhile, the Jagatsinghpur police has been allowed by the court to take Mishra and Bal on a four day remand. The police had applied for a five-day remand of the duo.

Last night Mishra and Bal, who were detained by the police in Thailand, were brought back to the state capital. Both were detained on Sundy in Thailand, with the assistance of Interpol.

The duo had escaped to Kathmandu after hiding at several places in the country following the murder of Seaways Shipping official Mahendra Swain on October 26. On Friday, a Kujang court had issued a non-bailable warrant against them.

So far seven persons have been arrested in connection with the murder, DGP K B Singh said.

The key accused in the case Susant Sethy, another close associate of Mishra, was arrested from the airport in New Delhi on Friday. Sethy had helped Mishra and Bal escape to Thailand.

The two had reached Bangkok from Nepal on a 15-day tourist visa, the police said adding a lookout circular had been issued for Mishra earlier.