Police have arrested the nephew of Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena in connection with the alleged suicide of a 20-year-old woman student at a private engineering college in Odisha’s Ganjam district.
The accused, identified as 24-year-old Biswajit Jena, is the minister’s nephew and was allegedly in a relationship with the deceased, who was pursuing a Bachelor in Computer Application (BCA) course at the same institution.
The woman student was found hanging from the ceiling of her hostel room on Saturday. She was staying in the hostel along with her sister and three other roommates.
Following the incident, police launched an investigation after receiving a complaint from the deceased student’s maternal uncle.
According to police, a case was registered at Golanthara police station under charges of abetment to suicide against Biswajit Jena.
Police Launch Investigation
Berhampur Superintendent of Police Saravana Vivek said senior police officers visited the scene, while a scientific team and an executive magistrate also inspected as part of the investigation.
According to the complaint, Biswajit Jena was also a BCA student at the same college.
“The exact cause of the woman’s death would be ascertained after receiving the post-mortem report. Investigation is going on, and appropriate action will be taken,” the SP said.
Police said further action would be based on the findings of the investigation.
The incident has triggered political reactions, with the opposition BJD demanding strict action against the accused regardless of his political connections.
“The police must arrest the accused, notwithstanding his relationship with the minister. The law must take its own course,” said former MLA Ramesh Chandra Ayyau Patnaik, the BJD’s Ganjam district president.
Meanwhile, BJP’s Ganjam district president Saroj Sabat said police were investigating the matter.
Neither the transport minister, the accused, nor their family members were immediately available for comment on the case.
(With Inputs From PTI)