Caretaker Hid Gold Worth Rs 10 Lakh At Friend’s House In Elderly Woman’s Murder Case

Bhubaneswar: Commissionerate Police on Friday recovered gold jewellery and other valuables worth over Rs 10 lakh in connection with the murder of 76-year-old Kunjalata Nanda at Buddhanagar under Laxmisagar police station in Bhubaneswar.

The recovered valuables include 52 gold-coated playing cards and other gold ornaments weighing nearly half a kilogram. Police also seized silver utensils, looted cash and a scooty allegedly purchased with the stolen money.

According to police, the prime accused, caretaker Balaram Maharana alias Balia, had concealed the stolen valuables at the house of his friend Sabita Sethi in Brahmagiri, Puri district. He reportedly told her that he was leaving the valuables there before going out of town for work.

Police said Balaram confessed to murdering Kunjalata on November 3 with the intention of looting her valuables. He was arrested from Vadodara nine days after the crime.

Sabita has also been arrested for allegedly harbouring the stolen valuables despite being aware of the crime. Both accused are being interrogated by the police. Balaram is currently on remand as the investigation into the murder and loot case continues