A 24-year-old man, said to be the nephew of Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, has been arrested on Monday on charges of abetting a 20-year-old woman to commit suicide. According to police, the latter was found hanging in her college hostel room in Odisha’s Ganjam district on Saturday.
Police said the woman, a Bachelor in Computer Applications (BCA) student at a private engineering college, was discovered dead on Saturday under suspicious circumstances, after which a probe was launched into her death. Authorities have subsequently booked the accused, Biswajit Jena, for abetting the woman to take the extreme step, adding that both of them were in a relationship.
Accused Biswajit Jena
Details of the case
According to police officials, the woman was residing in the college hostel along with her sister and three other roommates. She was found hanging from the ceiling of her room on Saturday, sending a wave of panic among fellow students and college authorities.
On receipt of the information, the police rushed to the scene and initiated a probe. Later, the woman’s maternal uncle lodged a police complaint against Jena, following which an FIR was registered at the Golanthara Police Station.
On Monday, the cops arrested Jena in connection with the case.
Probe underway into circumstances leading to death
Police sources said that both the woman and Jena were students of the same BCA programme at the institution. Preliminary findings indicate that both of them were in a relationship.
Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena
Berhampur’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Saravana Vivek said that a scientific investigation team and an executive magistrate also conducted inspections as part of the probe. He added, “The exact cause behind the woman’s death would be ascertained after receiving the post-mortem report. A probe is ongoing, and appropriate action will be taken on the basis of its findings.”
Political row erupts in state
Former MLA and BJD’s Ganjam district president, Ramesh Chandra Ayyau Patnaik, called for strict action, asserting that the law should apply equally to everyone regardless of political influence.
Meanwhile, BJP’s Ganjam district president, Saroj Sarbat, said that the matter was under police investigation and urged everyone to remain patient until all facts emerged. However, neither Minister Jena, nor any member of their family has issued a public statement yet.