Main Accused Surrenders in Niladri Vihar Murder Case; Love Triangle Angle Suspected

Bhubaneswar: The prime accused in the sensational Niladri Vihar murder case, Dinesh Nayak alias Dinabandhu, surrendered before police at the Jagatsinghpur police station on Tuesday evening.

Following his surrender, a team from Chandrasekharpur police station reached Jagatsinghpur to escort him to Bhubaneswar for further interrogation.

The case relates to the brutal killing of 27-year-old Satyabrata Pradhan, who was allegedly hacked to death late Sunday night at Niladri Vihar under the Chandrasekharpur police limits. Police suspect the murder to be the fallout of a love triangle.

Satyabrata, a native of Hasinipur village under Brahmagiri in Puri district, was employed as a driver with a city-based travel agency. According to investigators, he was acquainted with 21-year-old Liza Kandi, who is said to be the girlfriend of the accused. Liza has been detained for questioning in connection with the case.

Police sources said Satyabrata visited Liza at her rented house in Niladri Vihar after 11:30 pm on Sunday, arriving in his employer’s vehicle. Dinesh was reportedly already present at the house when Satyabrata arrived. An argument allegedly broke out between the two men, during which Dinesh is accused of attacking Satyabrata with a sharp weapon and slitting his throat.

Despite sustaining critical injuries, Satyabrata reportedly ran towards the main road, where locals spotted him and rushed him to Capital Hospital in an ambulance. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival.

After the attack, Dinesh fled the scene and remained absconding until his surrender on Tuesday.

The murder was followed by another dramatic incident later that night. Police said Satyabrata’s employer reached the hospital after learning about the incident. As locals had brought the vehicle used by Satyabrata to the hospital premises, the employer allegedly asked another driver to remove the car, fearing possible police action.

While returning, the driver — reportedly under the influence of alcohol — lost control of the vehicle. The car plunged from the Sishu Bhawan overbridge in the early hours of Monday and crashed onto a house in Kedarpalli Basti under Capital police station limits. At least two people sustained minor injuries in the accident.

Police said the investigation is ongoing, and the accused will be produced before a court after questioning.