Bhubaneswar, June 30: District Court, Khurdha, Bhubaneswar, on Tuesday sentenced temple priest Biju Panda, alias Banka, to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹20,000 after convicting him in a murder case.
District and Sessions Judge Biranchi Narayan Mohanty of Khurda, Bhubaneswar, found Panda guilty under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (murder) and Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Following the conviction, the court awarded him life imprisonment with fine of Rs 20,000.
According to the prosecution, complainant Ramesh Das lodged a complaint at Mancheswar Police Station on May 13, 2023, alleging that his wife, Sima Das, had been set on fire by Biju Panda at the premises of Jaleswar Temple on the intervening night of May 12 and 13, 2023.
Ramesh Das stated that he and his wife had remained childless despite 12 years of marriage. Seeking a solution, they approached Biju Panda, the priest of Jaleswar Temple, who allegedly assured them that Sima would be blessed with a child. According to the prosecution, Sima later became pregnant.
The prosecution further alleged that after Sima became pregnant, Panda pressured her to marry him. When she refused, citing that she was already married, he allegedly poured kerosene on her and set her ablaze. Sima later succumbed to her burn injuries while undergoing treatment.
Public Prosecutor Rasmi Ranjan Brahma represented the prosecution and successfully secured the conviction of the accused.
