Jajpur: Pronouncing its verdict in the sensational 2021 Jharaphula murder case, a local court Monday sentenced the deceased girl’s male friend to life imprisonment and his accomplice to five years’ rigorous imprisonment (RI).
Additional District and Sessions Judge Bisweswar Biswaprakash Ray convicted prime accused Rakesh Swain and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on him. The court also ordered an additional one-year jail term in default of payment.
The court also awarded a five-year jail term and a fine of Rs 10,000 on his accomplice and co-accused Amaresh Rout while delivering the order.
In default, Amaresh has to undergo an additional three months’ imprisonment, the court observed.
The prosecution was conducted by Special Public Prosecutor Sitanshu Mohanty and Additional Public Prosecutor Biplab Kumar Muduli.
According to the case diary, Jharaphula Nayak, a student of Rama Devi Women’s College in Bhubaneswar and a native of Bundeiposhi village in Mayurbhanj district, had developed a relationship with Rakesh Swain when she had been to her village during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Rakesh was working as a plumber in her village. Later, Jharaphula travelled to Bhubaneswar to attend a birthday celebration of the daughter of her caretaker Chakradhar Nayak January 26, 2021.
After the birthday celebration, Chakradhar helped Jharaphula board a bus at Jaya Devi Vihar.
However, instead of returning home, she got down at Vani Vihar Square and met Rakesh.
The two had food and later checked into a hotel in Khandagiri after dinner.
She died in the hotel that night under suspicious circumstances.
According to the prosecution, Rakesh, with the help of Ama resh, transported her body on a scooter from Bhubaneswar and dumped it on the roadside between Mulapal and Rajendrapur villages under Kuakhia police limits in Jajpur district before fleeing.
After Jharaphula failed to return home, her family lodged a missing complaint. Her body was later recovered, following which her father, Ramakantha Nayak, filed a complaint at Kuakhia police station.
Police registered a case (32/2021) and cracked the murder using CCTV footage before arresting the accused and filing a chargesheet.
After being brought on remand, the accused was interrogated for three days before police produced him in court again.
During the final stage of the investigation, Jajpur Road SDPO Sarat Chandra Patra thoroughly verified all case records.
Based on CCTV footage and other evidence, police arrested Rakesh along with his associate Amaresh and Shakti Sekhar Swain before forwarding them to court.
Relying on the testimonies of 22 prosecution witnesses and documentary evidence submitted by the police, the judge delivered the verdict.
Shakti Sekhar Swain was acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
The court also directed the District Legal Services Authority to provide Rs 10 lakh in compensation to the family of the victim.
Jajpur Additional SP Siti Kantha Kanungo and Kuakhia police station IIC Sushanta Kumar Sethi welcomed the verdict.
Addressing a news conference, Kanungo said the judgment ensured justice for the victim’s family and reflected the professionalism and prompt investigation carried out by the police.
He added that swift investigations and timely justice would help deter criminals and contribute to reducing crime in society.
