A 47-year-old real estate businessman, Sudhir Kumar Patra, was kidnapped and killed inOdisha’sGanjam district. The incident happened in the Gopalpur area. The police have arrested nine persons in connection with the case. After his wife filed a complaint at the police station, the officials formed dedicated teams to nab the accused.
The case began on April 16, 2026, when the victim’s wife, Rasmita Kumari Patra, filed a complaint alleging that her husband had been abducted at gunpoint the previous evening.
The kidnappers reportedly demanded a ransom of Rs 2 crore and threatened to kill him. Acting swiftly, police formed dedicated teams and launched a multi-layered investigation involving technical surveillance, mobile tracking, field intelligence, and coordinated raids across multiple locations.
Police revealed that the motive behind the crime was deep-rooted family enmity and business disputes. After the death of Sudhir’s elder brother, Monoj Kumar Patra, in 2025, tensions escalated between the families. Allegations, including suspicions of black magic and conflicts over real estate business, fueled hatred and a desire for revenge.
The investigation uncovered that Monoj Patra’s daughter, Nibedita Patra, along with her brother Tushar Kumar Patra, played a key role in planning the crime. Nibedita was reportedly in close contact with Prime Kalu Charan Pradhan and shared sensitive information about the victim’s movements and financial status. Together with other associates, including links from Gujarat, they allegedly hatched a detailed criminal conspiracy.
It was revealed that Nibedita informed her boyfriend that her uncle Sudhir possessed a large amount of money, which led to the conspiracy. Her brother, Tushar Patra, supported the plan and frequently visited her boyfriend’s house, actively participating in the preparation.
As per the plan, Kalu Charan Pradhan gathered several associates, including criminals linked to Surat such as Jitunu Pradhan and Surya Pratap Singh, along with other accomplices. They meticulously planned every detail, including who would make the ransom calls, how the kidnapping would be executed, and how the money would be demanded.
The kidnapping took place between 6:40 PM and 6:46 PM. Kalu Pradhan also involved Jitunu Polei from the Hinjili area in carrying out the crime. Initially, a Bolero vehicle was used for the abduction, which was later switched to a Hyundai Venue car to avoid detection.
Other accused, including Narayan Pradhan and Ashish Mahapatra, assisted in the operation by arranging liquor and other necessary items for the execution of the crime.
On April 15, around 7 PM, the accused kidnapped Sudhir while he was returning home after playing volleyball. He was first taken in a Bolero vehicle and later shifted to another car before being taken to a forest area under Buguda police limits.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
