Bapi Sarkhel tags Dama Rout as conspirator in his arrest

Choudwar: Congress leader and top class contractor Bapi Sarkhel, who had remained behind bars for the last five months in connection with the murder of Seaways Shipping general manager Mahendra Swain in Paradip, today alleged that BJD vice-president and minister Damodar Rout is the main conspirator behind his arrest.

“My prime political opponent Damodar Rout had hatched a conspiracy against me one month before the arrest. He had written to the SP of Jagatsinghpur in this regard and he succeeded in his conspiracy before the panchayat elections”, Sarkhel told OTV soon after being released from Choudwar jail.

“Anyway I walked out of the jail with the blessings of Lord Jagannath. The Court has delivered justice to me”, he added.

Sarkhel was granted conditional bail by the Orissa High Court on Monday against two bailers and surety of Rs 1 lakh each.

One of the co-accused in the high profile murder case that took place in October 26 last year, Sarkhel had surrendered before the Jagatsinghpur SP in November last year after a look out notice was issued against him.