Berhampur Court Jails Five for Businessman's Murder

A local court in Berhampur delivered a significant verdict on Friday, sentencing five individuals to life imprisonment for the murder of a 66-year-old businessman. This conviction concludes a case that originated around six years ago, specifically on the intervening night of June 13 and 14, 2020. The convicts were found guilty of trespassing into the victim's office-cum-residence with the intent to commit burglary.

During the intrusion, the perpetrators smothered the businessman, identified as Lambodar Muni, and fled with cash, gold ornaments, and other articles valued at approximately Rs 10 lakh. Police investigations led to the arrest of the accused and the recovery of the looted items. The crime branch of the state police took over the investigation on December 1, 2023, as directed by the Orissa High Court. The prosecution successfully established its case through oral and documentary evidence, including CCTV footage and the accused's mobile call detail records, with the recovered items being identified by the victim's children. Each convict also faces an additional four months of rigorous imprisonment if they fail to pay a Rs 13,000 fine.