Crime / Former Rajya Sabha MP N. Bhaskar Rao surrenders in 2010 criminal case

Rayagada, Nov 9: Former Rajya Sabha MP N. Bhaskar Rao surrendered before the Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADJM) Court here in Odisha on Monday in connection with the 2010 murder of tribal leader and Maa Majhighariani Temple trustee, Bhagirathi Mandangi.

Murder case developments

The case pertains to the killing of Mandangi in December 2010. According to case records, the Orissa High Court had earlier granted anticipatory bail to the accused persons including Bhaskar Rao. However, the Supreme Court subsequently set aside the High Court order and directed the accused to surrender before the competent court within two weeks.

Members of the victim's family had long alleged the involvement of Bhaskar Rao in the murder case. Following the intervention of the apex court, the former parliamentarian appeared before the ADJM Court and surrendered.

Bhagirathi Mandangi, a prominent tribal leader in Rayagada district, was murdered in December 2010. His charred body, with his hands and legs reportedly tied, was recovered from a dam near Totapalli in Andhra Pradesh, nearly 70 km away from Rayagada. The gruesome nature of the crime triggered widespread outrage in the tribal community.

The Zilla Adivasi Mahasangha of Rayagada has repeatedly demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the case, maintaining that a comprehensive investigation is needed to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the killing.

Also Read: Odisha: Former Rajya Sabha MP faces EOW heat in Rayagada Truck Owners’ Association case 

Fresh scrutiny

The surrender comes at a time when Bhaskar Rao is facing scrutiny in another high-profile case.

On November 6, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Odisha Police conducted searches at 11 locations linked to Bhaskar Rao and others in Bhubaneswar and Rayagada district in connection with alleged financial irregularities involving the Rayagada Truck Owners' Association.

The searches were carried out as part of an investigation into a case registered on September 22 under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including criminal breach of trust, cheating, extortion and criminal intimidation.

According to the EOW, the case relates to alleged large-scale financial misappropriation, misuse of association funds and intimidation involving office-bearers of the truck owners' body.