Crime News / Main Accused in Baleshwar Minor Rape-Murder Case Sent to Judicial Custody

Baleshwar, Oct 26: The main accused in the alleged rape and murder of a Class-X girl in Odisha’s Baleshwar district was produced in court and sent to judicial custody, a source said on Monday.

The accused, Chandrakanta Jena, was taken for a medical examination at the Baleshwar District Headquarters Hospital before being sent to judicial custody. Police are likely to seek his remand within the next one or two days for further interrogation, as investigators seek to establish the sequence of events and examine the alleged involvement of other accused persons.

Jena had been in police custody since October 22. According to the source, he has repeatedly changed his statements during questioning. Police are reportedly considering questioning him alongside three other accused persons who remain in custody.

Victim’s Clothes Recovered From Agricultural Field
During the probe, police learnt that the victim’s clothes had been removed and allegedly buried by Jena in an agricultural field at Dherapada, opposite the crime scene.

Police took the accused to the field late last night and recovered the buried clothes. The items were sent for forensic examination, which may help investigators establish further evidence in the case.

Also Read: Decomposed Body of Missing Minor Girl Recovered in Baleshwar; Boyfriend Accused of Rape and Murder

Police Examining Call Records
Investigators are also examining the accused’s call detail records (CDRs) to establish whom he contacted by mobile phone between October 15 and 22.

The victim’s decomposed body was recovered from Bartana village under Jaleswar police station limits on October 22, after she had reportedly been missing for five days.

According to the available information, the girl had left home on the evening of October 16 to attend a dance class with a minor female friend and Jena, but did not return.

The victim’s close friend and the friend’s mother have also been accused of involvement in the crime. Their alleged roles are under investigation.

Special Team Probing The Case
A special team was formed on the instructions of the Baleshwar Superintendent of Police to ensure an impartial investigation. The team is led by Additional Superintendent of Police Paresh Raut and includes two deputy superintendents of police and two inspectors-in-charge, according to the source.

The investigation is ongoing, and the allegations against the accused persons remain subject to the legal process.