Jajpur, Jun 29: Five years after the sensational murder of Rama Devi Women’s University student Jharaphula Nayak, a local court here in Odisha delivered its verdict on Monday, sentencing her male friend Rakesh Kumar Swain to life imprisonment and imposing a fine of Rs1 lakh, officials said.

Swain’s associate, Amaresh Rout, was awarded five years in jail for assisting in destroying evidence in connection to the murder, they added.

Jharaphula, 21, was killed in Bhubaneswar in January 2021 under mysterious circumstances after checking into a hotel with Swain. According to the Police, Swain carried her body on a two-wheeler with Rout’s help and dumped it near Mulapala in Jajpur district. The incident shocked Odisha, drawing widespread outrage over women’s safety and the misuse of private spaces.

Police pieced together the crime using CCTV footage and mobile data, eventually confirming that Swain was responsible for her death. The Additional District Judge (ADJ) court in Jajpur relied on the testimony of 22 witnesses before pronouncing the judgment.
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The case had remained in public memory due to its brutality and the brazen attempt to conceal the crime. The court verdict has brought a measure of relief to Jharaphula’s family, who had waited years for justice.

The incident also underscored the vulnerability of young women in cities and the urgent need for stronger safeguards. Women’s rights groups in Odisha had earlier demanded swift justice and systemic reforms to prevent such crimes.