Bhubaneswar, August 8: Six of the 20 people arrested in connection with the much-discussed murder of GRP constable Soumyaranjan Swain have been granted bail by the court and subsequently released from Jharpada Jail.

Police had earlier arrested 20 people in connection with the case. While evidence was reportedly submitted against 11 of them, the Crime Branch did not include the names of the remaining nine in the chargesheet, citing a lack of sufficient evidence against them. Of these nine, six have now secured bail and walked out of jail.

Soumyaranjan Swain, a GRP constable, was allegedly beaten to death near the Ramachandrapur Kaj Bridge in Balianta on May 7. Following the incident, the Commissionerate Police initially arrested 11 people, while the Crime Branch later arrested another nine in connection with the case.

Meanwhile, five to six other accused persons are reportedly still absconding.

The release of six accused persons on bail has now raised questions over the basis on which they were initially arrested. Questions are also being raised about what evidence or information had prompted the Commissionerate Police to take action against them when the Crime Branch subsequently failed to find sufficient evidence to include their names in the chargesheet.

The developments have sparked fresh questions in various quarters over the investigation and the grounds on which the arrests were made.