Berhampur, Apr 30: Fresh revelations emerged on Thursday in the murder case of plot dealer Sudhir Patra in Odisha's Ganjam district, with the postmortem report confirming that the victim was brutally beaten to death and not shot, as earlier suspected.

According to the findings of the Forensic Medicine and Toxicology department from MKCG Medical College and Hospital, the victim sustained severe injuries to the head and rib cage, leading to death. No gunshot wounds were found on the body. The HOD of MKCGMCH's FMT department, Dr Sudipa Das, said that the death likely occurred around five days before the body was recovered.

Brutal Assault Confirmed
Dr Sudipa Das said the injuries were consistent with a violent assault, including repeated blows to the chest and head.

4 Accused on Remand, Sent to Jail
Gopalpur Police on Wednesday had brought four accused on a one-day remand for interrogation before sending them to jail. The accused included the victim’s nephew Tushar Patra; niece Nibedita Patra; her partner Kalu Charan Pradhan; and alleged contract killer Surya Pratap Singh.

During interrogation, police conducted multiple rounds of face-to-face questioning among the accused and examined mobile call records and WhatsApp communications to establish the sequence of events.

Also Read: Family Feud, Witchcraft Suspicion Behind Brutal Murder of Berhampur Realtor Sudhir Patra: Police

Forensic Evidence Collected
Police seized key materials from the crime scene, including wooden sticks allegedly used in the assault, liquor bottles, and clothing, all of which have been sent for forensic examination.

In a significant development, DNA samples of the alleged contract killer Surya Pratap Singh have also been collected and sent for testing, as he is suspected to have been directly involved in the abduction, murder, and disposal of the body.

Investigators believe the interrogation has yielded crucial leads, and further evidence is being analysed to establish the full chain of events in the murder.

Kidnap, Torture and Murder
As per the investigation, Sudhir was abducted on April 15, 2026, around 7pm while returning home after playing volleyball at Gopalpur. He was first forced into a Mahindra Bolero vehicle before being shifted to a Hyundai Venue car near Polasara. The accused then took him deep into Ramapada forest under Buguda police station limits. There, he was subjected to brutal assault, beaten with wooden planks, kicked repeatedly and terrorised with gunshots fired near his body.

The entire torture was recorded on video, which was later sent to his wife, Rasmita Patra, to demand a ransom of Rs 2 crore. When the family expressed inability to arrange such a huge amount, the threats intensified. Police said the victim eventually succumbed to the severe injuries inflicted during the assault.