‘Odia actress Nikita was murdered’: Husband sentenced to life imprisonment

In a major development in the much-discussed death case of well-known Odia actress Nikita, also known as Laxmipriya Behera, the Third Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADJ) Court in Cuttack on Thursday convicted her husband Lipan Sahu and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Pronouncing the verdict, the court found Lipan guilty of murdering the actress. Along with life imprisonment, the court also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on the convict.

Husband Pushed Her From Terrace

However, in connection with the domestic violence allegations, the court acquitted Lipan’s parents, declaring them not guilty due to a lack of sufficient evidence.

Also Read: 22-year-old Nikita from Jammu & Kashmir 'hangs' herself in Gurugram

The case dates back to January 4, 2019, when Nikita was critically injured after falling from the terrace of an apartment in the Mahanadi Vihar area of Cuttack. She was immediately rushed to a private hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment.

Dowry Harassment After Marriage

Following the incident, Nikita’s family members lodged a complaint alleging that Lipan Sahu had pushed her off the terrace, leading to her death. The family also accused him of subjecting the actress to dowry-related harassment after marriage.

Nikita had made a mark in the Odia entertainment industry through films such as ‘Mita Basichi Mu Bhuta Sathire’, ‘Chori Chori’, ‘Mathare Dei Pata Odhani’, and ‘Gunda’. She was also widely known for her roles in popular Odia television serials like ‘SCP Nikita’ and ‘Tapasya’, which earned her recognition in households across Odisha.