Driver's murder case: Woman cleared of involvement, a day after prime suspect surrenders

Bhubaneswar: Police have given a clean chit to the woman at whose Chandrasekharpur residence car driver Satyabrata Pradhan was murdered on Monday over a reported love triangle. The development came just a day after Dinesh Nayak, prime suspect in the case, surrendered before police.

“No evidence against the woman has come to light, leading to the conclusion that she was not involved directly or indirectly in the crime. Prima facie, Nayak is the lone accused,” said ACP (zone-VI), Sonali Singh Parmar.


Police said Nayak, who is an occasional driver, suspected the woman of having an affair with Pradhan. “Despite being married, Nayak was in a live-in relationship with the woman in Niladri Vihar for some time,” Parmar said. Police sources said that their relationship strained after she found Nayak was married and began distancing herself.

Nayak then moved to another house nearby, while the woman developed a relationship with Pradhan over social media, police sources added.

In the intervening night between Sunday and Monday, Nayak allegedly spotted Pradhan’s car outside her residence, stormed in, and confronted them. “A heated argument escalated into violence when Nayak slashed Pradhan’s throat with a knife,” the ACP said.

Police officers said the woman tried to protect Pradhan and later attempted to rush him to hospital by calling an ambulance and alerting neighbours. While she was detained for her suspected role in the murder, Nayak fled the scene before he surrendered the next day, helping police reconstruct the sequence of events.

On Wednesday, police took Nayak to the woman’s house to recreate the crime scene. They seized the knife used in the attack and his car. Police said the woman will serve as a key witness to ensure Nayak’s conviction.

Nayak’s wife, Mamali, who lives in Jagatsinghpur with their minor daughter and in-laws, confirmed she was aware of his extramarital affair. “Our relationship had soured a few years ago after he got involved with the woman. He hardly visits us. He assaulted me one day when I asked him about the woman,” said Mamali, who got married to Nayak about 10 years ago.