Odisha tribal murder case: Ex-MP Bhaskar Rao, 3 others surrender after SC order
Synopsis
Fourteen years after the alleged abduction and murder of tribal leader Bhagirathi Mandangi, former Rajya Sabha MP N. Bhaskar Rao and three co-accused finally surrendered before a Rayagada court on Monday — compelled by a Supreme Court order that overturned an Orissa High Court bail grant. One surviving accused remains at large, and a parallel EOW fraud probe adds further legal jeopardy for the former legislator.
Key Takeaways
Former Rajya Sabha MP N.
Bhaskar Rao and three co-accused surrendered before the Rayagada SDJM Court on 9 November 2026 .
The Supreme Court on 26 October 2026 set aside the Orissa High Court 's anticipatory bail order and gave accused two weeks to surrender.
All four — Bhaskar Rao , K.
Krishna Rao , Ippili Sanyasi Raju , and P.
Dilip Kumar — were placed in judicial custody at Rayagada Sub-Jail .
Adinarayana did not surrender; sixth accused Yella Venkateswar Rao alias Kondababu has died.
The case stems from the 2010 alleged abduction and murder of tribal leader Bhagirathi Mandangi in Rayagada district, Odisha .
Separately, the EOW conducted searches at 11 locations linked to Bhaskar Rao on 6 November 2026 in a financial fraud probe.
Former Rajya Sabha MP N. Bhaskar Rao and three co-accused surrendered before the Rayagada Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Court on Monday, 9 November 2026, in the long-pending murder case of tribal leader Bhagirathi Mandangi. The surrender came after the Supreme Court of India had directed all surviving accused to present themselves within two weeks, rejecting earlier anticipatory bail protections.
Key Developments in the Case
The Supreme Court, on 26 October 2026, set aside the Orissa High Court's order dated 22 January 2026 that had granted anticipatory bail to the accused. The apex court bench firmly rejected the bail directions and ordered the accused to surrender within two weeks — a deadline that fell on Monday.
Four of the five surviving accused complied: N. Bhaskar Rao, K. Krishna Rao, Ippili Sanyasi Raju, and P. Dilip Kumar. A fifth accused, K. Adinarayana, did not surrender as of Monday. The sixth accused in the case, Yella Venkateswar Rao alias Kondababu, has since died.
Following their surrender, all four were placed in judicial custody at Rayagada Sub-Jail.
Background: A Case Registered in 2010
The case dates back to 2010, when a First Information Report was registered over the alleged abduction and murder of Bhagirathi Mandangi, a local tribal leader in Rayagada district. His family had accused the six persons — including former MP Rao — of direct involvement in the crime.
The legal journey intensified when a lower court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Bhaskar Rao in 2024, prompting him to challenge the warrant before the Orissa High Court. The deceased's brother, Jagannath Mandangi, subsequently challenged the High Court's anticipatory bail order before the Supreme Court, ultimately securing Monday's outcome.
What the Accused and Tribal Groups Said
Bhaskar Rao's lawyer, Naba Kumar Kanta, confirmed that his client surrendered in compliance with the Supreme Court's directions and was taken into judicial custody after his bail application was rejected.
The Tribal Mahasangha of Rayagada welcomed the development, saying the Supreme Court's directive had renewed hopes for Bhagirathi Mandangi's family, which has been awaiting justice for over a decade. The organisation described the surrender as a vindication of its prolonged legal battle on behalf of the tribal community.
Parallel EOW Probe Adds to Bhaskar Rao's Legal Troubles
The surrender comes amid a separate investigation by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Odisha Crime Branch, which on 6 November 2026 conducted simultaneous searches at 11 locations linked to Bhaskar Rao and others across Bhubaneswar and Rayagada district.
According to the EOW, that case involves alleged large-scale financial irregularities, criminal misappropriation of funds, extortion, and criminal intimidation tied to office-bearers of a Truck Owners' Association in Rayagada. The twin legal pressures — the murder case and the financial fraud probe — represent a significant escalation of scrutiny on the former legislator.
What Happens Next
With four accused now in judicial custody, the Rayagada SDJM Court is expected to proceed with trial hearings. The whereabouts and surrender status of K. Adinarayana, the only surviving accused yet to comply, will likely draw the court's attention in coming days. Tribal rights groups have indicated they will continue to monitor the proceedings closely.
Point of View
Triggered not by state action but by the victim's family approaching the apex court, underscores a persistent pattern: without upper-court pressure, anticipatory bail protections can function as indefinite shields for the well-connected. The parallel EOW fraud probe involving Bhaskar Rao adds a second dimension of accountability that the mainstream coverage has largely treated as a footnote, when it may be equally consequential. The compliance of only four of five surviving accused also signals that one individual still believes he can evade court directions — a contempt question that courts will need to address swiftly to maintain the integrity of this order.
NationPress
9 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did former MP N. Bhaskar Rao surrender before the Rayagada court?
N. Bhaskar Rao surrendered on 9 November 2026 following a Supreme Court directive issued on 26 October 2026, which rejected anticipatory bail and ordered all accused in the Bhagirathi Mandangi murder case to present themselves within two weeks. His surrender was confirmed by his lawyer, Naba Kumar Kanta.
What is the Bhagirathi Mandangi murder case?
It is a case registered in 2010 involving the alleged abduction and murder of Bhagirathi Mandangi, a tribal leader in Rayagada district, Odisha. His family accused six persons, including former Rajya Sabha MP N. Bhaskar Rao, of involvement in the crime.
What did the Supreme Court order in this case?
The Supreme Court set aside the Orissa High Court's anticipatory bail order dated 22 January 2026 and directed all surviving accused to surrender within two weeks. The order was passed on 26 October 2026, with the deadline falling on 9 November 2026.
Who among the accused has not surrendered?
K. Adinarayana, one of the five surviving accused, had not surrendered as of Monday, 9 November 2026. The sixth accused, Yella Venkateswar Rao alias Kondababu, has died.
What is the separate EOW case against Bhaskar Rao?
The Economic Offences Wing of the Odisha Crime Branch conducted searches at 11 locations linked to Bhaskar Rao on 6 November 2026 in a separate financial fraud investigation. The case reportedly involves large-scale financial irregularities, criminal misappropriation, extortion, and criminal intimidation connected to a Truck Owners' Association in Rayagada.
