Ex-MP Bhaskar Rao surrenders before court

Bhubaneswar: Former Rajya Sabha member N Bhaskar Rao and five others surrendered before a court in Rayagada district on Monday in connection with the murder of prominent tribal leader Bhagirathi Mandangi in 2010, following a Supreme Court directive. Rao, who resigned from the Opposition BJD on September 25 and floated a political platform in Rayagada, surrendered before the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court in compliance with the apex court’s order.

SDJM court judge Jotirmayee Sarangi rejected the bail pleas of Rao and the five others and remanded them to judicial custody for 14 days, a judicial official said. The Supreme Court on October 26 cancelled the bail earlier granted to Rao and the other accused in the case and directed them to surrender within two weeks. It set aside the Orissa High Court’s anticipatory bail order issued on January 22. The apex court, however, allowed them to file fresh applications for regular bail before the lower court.

On November 12, 2024, the Rayagada SDJM court had issued non-bailable warrants against six persons, including Bhaskar Rao. The slain tribal leader’s brother, Jagannath Mandangi, along with some tribal organisations, had challenged the anticipatory bail granted by the Orissa High Court. The case involves allegations of murder, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence against seven persons, including Rao. One of the accused has since died. On December 15, 2010, Mandangi, a tribal leader and trustee of the Maa Majhighariani Temple in Rayagada, went missing.

His partially burnt body was later recovered near Thotapalli reservoir in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. His hands and legs were tied, raising suspicions of a planned murder. The Odisha Police Crime Branch investigated the case after Mandangi’s family and tribal organisations alleged that he was killed for raising questions about alleged irregularities in the temple’s management.

On November 6, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Odisha Police raided Rao’s office, residence and properties in Rayagada and Bhubaneswar. The EOW alleged that Rao, in connivance with other office-bearers of a truck association, had collected crores of rupees and was also accused of funding Naxalite activities in southern Odisha, according to a statement issued by the agency.

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The Hans India