Mishra sent on 4-day police remand

Odisha: Prominent businessman Mahimananda Mishra, arrested in connection with a murder case in this port town of Odisha, was today taken on remand for four days by the police.

Mishra was taken by the police from Samagol Jail at Kujang in Jagatsinghpur district for interrogation in connection with the murder of a shipping company official, Mahendra Swain on October 26, police said.

Judicial Magistrate first class Digvijay Das had on Thursday given permission to the police for the purpose.

The remand period, which initially was to begin on Thursday, was earlier put on hold because of the ill health of Mishra, Managing Director of Odisha Stevedores Limited (OSL).

Mishra and his close aide Basant Bal, both accused in the murder of Mahendra Swain on October 26, had been shifted from jail to Jagatsinghpur district headquarters hospital on December 27 after they complained of chest pain.

While Bal was later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, Mishra was on Wednesday taken back to jail as his condition improved.

The court had ordered police remand for both after rejecting their bail pleas on December 27.

The two, who had earlier escaped to Thailand via Kathmandu, were brought to Bhubaneswar on the night of December 26 and taken to Paradip.

With the arrest of Mishra and Bal, the number of persons arrested in the murder case has risen to nine.

Seven persons have already been arrested in connection with Swain s murder.