Odisha: Two Arrested for Murdering the Architect of a Phony Kidnapping Scheme to Secure Ransom
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Bhubaneswar, Dec 27 (NationPress) The Mayurbhanj Police in Odisha have apprehended two individuals on the grounds of murdering the architect of a fraudulent kidnapping scheme designed to seize a ransom amount, stated a senior official on Friday.
The suspects have been identified as Asish Singh (24) and Karama Singh (22), both hailing from the Baripada Sadar police station area within Mayurbhanj district.
Law enforcement sources revealed that the victim, identified as Chandan Kumar Swain, resided in Marsaghai, Kendrapara district.
Chandan, who had been employed as a supervisor at his uncle Banshidhar Swain's garment factory in Bengaluru for the past three years, left his position on December 17, 2024 due to disagreements and job dissatisfaction, subsequently returning to Bhubaneswar.
During his time in Bengaluru, Chandan formed a friendship with the primary accused, Asish, who also worked at the same garment factory.
In dire financial need, Chandan conspired with Asish to extort a ransom of Rs 50 lakhs from his uncle Banshidhar by fabricating a kidnapping scenario.
However, Asish became discontent with Chandan's insistence on receiving the majority of the Rs 50 lakhs as the mastermind and resolved to eliminate Chandan to claim the entire ransom.
On December 21, Chandan arrived in Mayurbhanj, where Asish fatally attacked him by slitting his throat at the embankment of the Budhabalanga River near his native village, Gumudi.
Asish, aided by Karama, then buried Chandan's partially burned body in the riverbank and disposed of the murder weapon in the water.
Subsequently, Asish traveled to Bhubaneswar, using Chandan's mobile SIM to contact Deepak Swain (the factory owner’s son) and demanded Rs 50 lakhs, posing as Chandan's kidnapper.
On December 25, a complaint was lodged against an unknown kidnapper at the Kharavel Nagar Police station in Bhubaneswar by a relative of the deceased.
On December 26, local villagers in Gumudi noticed Chandan's hand protruding from the sand and promptly alerted the police, leading to the exhumation of the body and the initiation of an investigation. Utilizing call record details of Asish and other investigative leads, police apprehended the two suspects, who will be presented in court on Saturday.
