On April 15, a 47-year-old real estate entrepreneur named Sudhir Kumar Patra was heading home from a volleyball match in Gopalpur, Odisha, when attackers intercepted him, forced him into a car, and drove off.
Seven days later, authorities found his decomposed remains beside a roadway leading into a forest within the Sorada police jurisdiction in Ganjam district.
On Thursday, law enforcement detained nine suspects linked to the kidnapping and homicide. Officials stated they solved the case by linking a prior family member’s unexpected passing, allegations of sorcery, a sibling business conflict, and a scheme for vengeance.
Following Patra’s disappearance, his relatives received demands for a 2 crore rupee payment. They prepared to comply, but the exchange never occurred.
The conflict originated from a long-standing disagreement over real estate dealings between Sudhir and his brother Manoj Kumar Patra, who passed away from health issues at age 49 in June of the previous year, according to investigators.
Ganjam Superintendent of Police Suvendu Patra explained that the brothers’ financial disagreements escalated family tensions. Manoj’s relatives blamed Sudhir for the death, claiming he employed dark rituals.
This resentment prompted Manoj’s family to seek retribution against Sudhir, authorities reported.
The probe focused on Manoj’s 23-year-old daughter, Nibedita Patra, who had maintained contact with 28-year-old Kalu Charan Pradhan, a key suspect, for five years.
The superintendent noted that Nibedita frequently voiced anger toward her uncle and encouraged reprisals. Technical evidence showed extensive interactions between her and Kalu starting January 1, including details about the victim’s finances and routines.
Investigators added that Nibedita’s 19-year-old brother, Tushar, also communicated regularly with Kalu and pushed for action against Sudhir.
Police said Kalu recruited additional accomplices, some connected to Surat in Gujarat and others with prior criminal records, to form a plot.
The group reportedly seized Sudhir at 7 p.m. on April 15, transported him in a vehicle, switched cars, and brought him to Ramapada forest under Buguda police area. There, they allegedly beat him with wooden sticks, fired shots nearby to intimidate him, and recorded the incident on video.
The suspects sent the footage to the victim’s spouse along with the ransom demand. An official mentioned that although the family gathered the funds and arrived at the specified location, the perpetrators failed to appear because Sudhir had died from his wounds early on April 16. The group then left the body near a forest road and fled to various places.
Authorities collaborated with Surat’s crime unit to capture some suspects, while others are still at large.
The Ganjam SP indicated that scrutiny fell on Nibedita and Tushar due to their evasive behavior. They were included among the nine individuals arrested.
