Cuttack Constable Charge-Sheeted for Allegedly Killing Wife for Insurance Money

Cuttack: Cuttack Rural Police have filed a charge sheet against constable Deepak Rout for allegedly murdering his wife, Aparna Priyadarshini, to claim insurance benefits.

The charge sheet, spanning nearly 300 pages, has been submitted before the SDJM court in Athagarh. Police have cited around 30 to 32 witnesses in connection with the case. The accused has been booked under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 302 (murder), Section 498A (cruelty related to dowry), and Section 201 (destruction of evidence).

The case has drawn significant attention as Deepak Rout was earlier linked to another murder involving his second wife, Subhamitra Sahu. She had gone missing on September 6, and subsequent investigations revealed that she was allegedly killed by the accused to claim an insurance amount of Rs 1 crore. Her body was reportedly buried in an attempt to conceal the crime. The case came to light on September 17.

Following developments in the Subhamitra case, suspicion grew over the death of Aparna Priyadarshini, Deepak’s first wife. Her family had initially alleged foul play, but at the time of her death on March 17, 2022, under Khuntuni police limits, the incident was registered as an accident.

In light of fresh evidence, police reopened the case and reclassified it as a murder. Further investigation is underway.