Odishatv Bureau

Balasore: Five years after the murder of Balasore Judicial Magistrate Anupama Behera, the Cuttack First Class Additional District Judge court today awarded life sentences to two brothers in connection with the case.

Cuttack First Class Additional District Judge, Sanjay Kumar Sahoo pronounced the verdict after convicting Jyotiranjan and Priyaranjan Mohanty in the case under Sec 302 for murder and 120 (b) for hatching criminal conspiracy.

Besides, younger brother Priyaranjan was awarded four years’ of additional jail term and fine of Rs 10,000 for destroying evidence.

In case Priyaranjan fails to pay the penalty, he will serve another year in jail, informed government counsel Ajit Kumar Patnaik.

On the other hand, Jagabandhu Panda, counsel of the accused stated, “There’s no evidence against the accused. However, the judgement is a moral and sentimental one. We will appeal in the higher court against the verdict.”
Anupama’s brother, Amiya Kumar Behera stated, “I am happy that the accused were punished.”

Based on statements of 27 witnesses and circumstantial evidence, the court pronounced the verdict.

The case was transferred to Cuttack on plea of the government counsel.

As per reports, judge Anupama Behera while working as Judicial Magistrate in Ranapur was in an extra-marital relationship with Jyotiranajan who was working as a ‘Peshakar’ in the court.

Later Anupama was transferred to Balasore.

However, family of Jyotiranajan came to know about the relationship and opposed it as both were married. Subsequently, the two siblings planned to eliminate her.
On March 15, 2013, Jyotiranajan’s younger brother Priyaranjan visited the judge’s house at Rajabagicha and stayed there overnight. He killed her with a kitchen knife and a pincer.

The matter came to light the next day when body of the judge was recovered. Two days later, the two brothers were arrested by the Balasore police.

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