Berhampur, April 23: In a major breakthrough, police in Berhampur have cracked a sensational kidnapping, ransom and murder case of a local businessman, arresting nine accused persons after an intensive investigation.
The case pertains to the abduction and killing of 47-year-old real estate businessman Sudhir Kumar Patra from the Gopalpur area under Ganjam district. Police said the accused were apprehended from different locations following sustained technical surveillance, intelligence gathering and coordinated raids.
Kidnapping and Ransom Demand
According to the police, the victim was kidnapped on the evening of April 15 while returning home after playing volleyball in Gopalpur. The kidnappers allegedly abducted him at gunpoint and later demanded a ransom of ₹2 crore from his family, threatening to kill him.
A complaint was lodged the next day by his wife, prompting registration of a case at Gopalpur Police Station and immediate launch of an investigation.
Body Recovered from Forest Area
During the probe, police recovered the decomposed body of the victim from a jungle road near Ketamani Hills under Sorada police limits. A spot post-mortem was conducted, and the final autopsy report is awaited.
Family Dispute Behind Crime
Preliminary investigation indicates that long-standing family disputes and business rivalry were the primary motives behind the crime. Police revealed that tensions had escalated between the victim and the family of his deceased elder brother following disagreements over real estate business and personal allegations.
Investigators found evidence of frequent communication between key accused and family members of the deceased brother, suggesting a planned conspiracy.
Chilling Sequence of Events
Police said the victim was first taken in a Bolero vehicle and later shifted to another car near Polasara. He was then taken to a forest area under Buguda police limits, where he was brutally assaulted.
The accused reportedly recorded the assault and sent the video to the victim’s wife to intensify ransom pressure. The victim succumbed to severe injuries at the spot.
His body was later dumped in a forested area to destroy evidence before the accused fled.
Seizures and Arrests
Police seized two vehicles used in the crime, 14 mobile phones and a country-made pistol during the investigation.
All nine accused have been arrested and forwarded to court. Police said they will seek remand for further interrogation, and efforts are ongoing to trace other absconding individuals linked to the case.
Prior Criminal Links
Officials also confirmed that some of the arrested accused have previous criminal records, including cases related to serious offences in Odisha and other states.
Police described the operation as a significant success and assured that further investigation is underway to ensure complete justice in the case.
