Odisha woman murder: Caretaker nabbed in Gujarat after multi-state manhunt
Synopsis
A caretaker hired to look after a widowed 76-year-old Bhubaneswar woman murdered her for financial gain, disabled the CCTV cameras, and went on the run across five states before being caught on a Delhi-bound bus in Vadodara — a week-long interstate chase that ended with Gujarat Police's help.
Key Takeaways
Balabhadra Maharana , 40 , was arrested in Vadodara, Gujarat on 12 November 2026 for the murder of his employer, Kunjalata Nanda , 76 .
Nanda's body was discovered on 4 November at her Laxmisagar home in Bhubaneswar with severe head injuries.
The accused reportedly strangled her first, then inflicted fatal blows when she resisted, and fled on her scooty after breaking open an almirah and disabling CCTV cameras .
Maharana traversed at least five locations — Kolkata , Raipur , Panipat , Surat , and Ahmedabad — before being intercepted.
Police seized ₹20,600 cash, gold jewellery, two mobile phones, a SIM card, and a diary from his possession.
He has been brought to Bhubaneswar on transit remand ; recovery of stolen valuables and the scooty is ongoing.
Bhubaneswar's Commissionerate Police arrested the prime suspect in the murder of 76-year-old Kunjalata Nanda from Vadodara, Gujarat, on 12 November 2026, cracking a case that had triggered a week-long, multi-state manhunt. The accused, her caretaker Balabhadra Maharana alias Balia, 40, was intercepted aboard a Delhi-bound bus with the help of Gujarat Police, Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh confirmed at a press conference on Thursday.
How the Crime Came to Light
The incident surfaced on the morning of 4 November when tenants in the same building grew concerned after Nanda failed to respond to their calls and her room was found locked from the inside. They alerted her daughter, Samahita Nanda, who informed the police. Officers forced open the grill door and found Nanda lying in a pool of blood near the dining table, with severe head injuries. She was rushed to Capital Hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.
A case — No. 777/26 — was registered at Laxmisagar police station under Section 311 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on a complaint filed by her son-in-law.
Who Is the Accused
Maharana, a native of Tangi in Khordha district, had been residing at Titipa under Krushnaprasad police limits in Puri district. He had been employed as a caretaker at Nanda's Laxmisagar residence in Bhubaneswar for over five months following the death of her husband. He was hired through a relative, Bidyadhara Maharana, who had previously worked as domestic help for Nanda's elder son, currently residing in the United States.
How the Murder Unfolded
According to Commissioner Singh, preliminary investigation revealed that Maharana first attempted to strangle the elderly woman. When she resisted, he inflicted fatal injuries to the back of her head. He then broke open an almirah, disconnected CCTV cameras installed inside the house, and fled on the deceased's scooty. Police said the murder was motivated by financial gain.
The Week-Long Multi-State Chase
After the crime, Maharana deliberately evaded arrest by constantly changing his location across multiple states. He reportedly visited Kolkata, Raipur, Panipat, and Surat in quick succession. A special team from Laxmisagar police station traced him first to Ahmedabad, then pursued fresh intelligence leads to Surat. With assistance from Gujarat Police, the team intercepted a Delhi-bound bus in Vadodara district and apprehended the accused.
Seized from his possession were ₹20,600 in cash, a gold locket, a gold finger ring, a pair of earrings, two mobile phones, a SIM card, and a diary.
What Happens Next
Maharana has been brought to Bhubaneswar on transit remand. Interrogation is underway to recover the remaining stolen valuables and the deceased's scooty, which he used to flee the scene. Police are also examining whether any accomplices were involved in the crime or in facilitating his escape route across multiple states.
Point of View
With no formal vetting, and had access to the victim's home for over five months. The deliberate disabling of CCTV and rapid interstate movement suggest pre-meditation rather than impulse — raising questions about whether investigators will probe any advance planning or financial transactions. For police, the multi-state coordination is a genuine operational success; the harder policy question is what institutional safeguards exist for the growing population of elderly Indians living alone.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was killed in the Bhubaneswar Laxmisagar murder case?
The victim was Kunjalata Nanda , a 76-year-old woman residing in the Laxmisagar area of Bhubaneswar . Her body was discovered on 4 November 2026 by tenants in the same building, who alerted her daughter after she failed to respond to their calls.
Who is the accused Balabhadra Maharana?
Balabhadra Maharana , alias Balia , 40 , is a native of Tangi in Odisha's Khordha district . He had been working as a caretaker at the victim's home for over five months after the death of her husband, hired through a relative who had previously served the family.
How was the accused caught after a week on the run?
A special police team from Laxmisagar police station tracked Maharana across multiple states — including Kolkata, Raipur, Panipat, and Surat — before intelligence led them to Gujarat. With assistance from Gujarat Police , the team intercepted a Delhi-bound bus in Vadodara district and arrested him on 12 November 2026 .
What was the motive behind the murder?
Police say the accused murdered Kunjalata Nanda for financial gain . He allegedly strangled her and, when she resisted, inflicted fatal blows to the back of her head. He then broke open an almirah, disabled CCTV cameras, and fled on the deceased's scooty.
What items were recovered from the accused?
Police seized ₹20,600 in cash, a gold locket, a gold finger ring, a pair of earrings, two mobile phones, a SIM card, and a diary from Maharana's possession at the time of his arrest. The deceased's scooty and remaining stolen valuables are yet to be recovered.
