Jajpur, June 30: More than five years after the sensational murder of Ramadevi Women's University student Jharaphul Nayak, the Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADJ) Court in Jajpur on Monday pronounced its verdict, sentencing the prime accused, Rakesh Swain, to life imprisonment.

The court also imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on Rakesh, who was found guilty of murdering Jharaphul. His associate, Amaresh Raut, was sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment for assisting in the crime and destroying evidence.

According to the prosecution, Jharaphul had travelled to Bhubaneswar on January 24, 2021, to stay with her local guardian. On January 26, while returning to her native village, Brundeiposi in Mayurbhanj district, she contacted Rakesh Swain to recover money she had earlier lent him. Rakesh allegedly persuaded her to meet him on the pretext of returning the money and took her to a hotel in Bhubaneswar.

Investigators said Rakesh later murdered Jharaphul and, with the help of Amaresh, transported her body on a scooter before dumping it by the roadside near Rajendrapur under Kuakhia police station in Jajpur district.

The case had sparked widespread outrage across Odisha in 2021, with demands for swift justice. Delivering the long-awaited judgment, the Jajpur ADJ Court convicted Rakesh of murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment, while Amaresh was convicted for aiding the crime and destroying evidence.

Jharaful's mother, Jamuna Nayak, said the verdict would bring peace to her daughter's soul. "My daughter has finally received justice. I believe her soul will now rest in peace," she said with tears in her eyes.

While expressing satisfaction over the conviction, the grieving parents said they had hoped for capital punishment for the prime accused, Rakesh Swain, alleging that he had brutally killed their daughter. "He deserved the death penalty, but the court has sentenced him to life imprisonment. Though it is not the punishment we expected, we are relieved that justice has been done," they said.

Recalling their daughter's aspirations, the parents said they had struggled financially to educate her in Bhubaneswar and dreamed of seeing her succeed in life. They added that they had no knowledge of her relationship with Rakesh until after her death.

Police Hail Verdict, Recall Intensive Investigation

Welcoming the court's verdict, Jajpur Police said the conviction was the result of an exhaustive investigation carried out under challenging circumstances.

Addressing a press conference at Jajpur Town Police Station, Additional SP Sheetikanta Kanungo and Kuakhia IIC Sushanta Sethi said the case was initially shrouded in mystery, making it difficult to identify the accused.

Police officers worked round the clock to crack the case after Jharaful's body was recovered. With the guidance of the then Superintendent of Police and assistance from Airfield Police in Bhubaneswar, investigators arrested the accused and registered Kuakhia Police Station Case No. 32/2021 under Sections 302, 201 and 34 of the IPC, along with relevant provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, before filing the chargesheet.

Victim Was Smothered to Death in Guest House

According to the prosecution, Jharaful had attended a birthday party before returning to Bhubaneswar. After getting off a bus at Vani Vihar, she contacted Rakesh seeking repayment of money he had borrowed from her.

Rakesh then contacted his associate, Amaresh Rout alias Kahna, who arranged accommodation for the couple at Shiva Sai Guest House in Dharmavihar.

The two checked into Room No. 201 of the guest house. Investigators said Rakesh later smothered Jharaful with a pillow, killing her inside the room.

Murder Planned Over Loan Dispute

Police investigation revealed that Rakesh had borrowed more than ₹30,000 from Jharaful to purchase a motorcycle.

When Jharaful repeatedly demanded repayment and allegedly threatened to inform Rakesh's parents if he failed to return the money, he decided to eliminate her instead of settling the debt.

Investigators concluded that the murder was premeditated and carried out to avoid repaying the borrowed amount.

Body Dumped Along Roadside

Following the murder, Rakesh and his associate allegedly transported Jharaful's body on a Honda Dio scooter, intending to dispose of it in the Satkosia forest.

However, after being questioned by a passerby during the journey, they abandoned the body near Rajendrapur under Kuakhia police limits in Jajpur district and fled the scene.

The body was later recovered by Kuakhia Police, triggering an investigation that eventually led to the arrest and conviction of the accused.

Co-Accused Later Arrested in Illegal Arms Case

Police records show that Amaresh Rout, a co-accused in the Jharaful murder case, was arrested earlier this year in connection with an illegal firearms racket.

Commissionerate Police had seized two semi-automatic firearms from his possession. Investigators said Amaresh was earlier involved in land dealings but allegedly turned to illegal arms trafficking after being released from jail. Police further alleged that he developed links with interstate criminal networks while in prison and later supplied firearms in Bhubaneswar, Khurda, Pipili and Jatni.

The verdict in the Jharaful Nayak murder case brings to a close one of Odisha's most widely discussed criminal cases, with the victim's family hoping it serves as a strong message against crimes against women.