Commissionerate Police solve five-year-old double murder, two arrested

Bhubaneswar, Feb 14: In a major breakthrough, the Commissionerate Police have solved a five-year-old double murder case involving an elderly couple in Cuttack.

The police arrested Santosh Samad and his wife, Basanti, for their alleged involvement in the killing of Srinath Samal and his wife, Bidulata, at their residence under Madhupatna police limits on December 12, 2019.

As per a statement released by the Commissionerate Police, ACP Manoj Satpathy led the investigation, which uncovered that the crime was driven by personal resentment. Basanti, who had previously worked as a domestic helper for the victims, reportedly felt wronged by their behavior. Allegedly, she and her husband plotted revenge, leading to the brutal crime.

The breakthrough in the case came after police analyzed call records, revealing a suspicious 40-hour gap in Basanti’s phone activity. Further evidence, including Santosh’s confession, confirmed their involvement. On December 11, 2019, the accused traveled from Sundargarh to Cuttack, with Basanti deliberately turning off her phone. Later, Santosh entered the house, killed the couple, searched for valuables, and disposed of his bloodstained clothes before fleeing. Both suspects have been presented in court.