Tailor’s receipt leads to arrest of woman’s husband in Cuttack murder

Bhubaneswar, Dec 15: In a significant breakthrough, Cuttack police solved the murder case of a woman whose body was discovered on the banks of the Kathajodi River near Paramahansa in Kandarpur police limits within 30 hours. The tailor's clue—an unusual paper receipt stitched inside blood-stained clothing—played a crucial role in identifying the suspects.

The victim, identified as Padmavati Samal, was found with severe injuries and a disfigured face, likely to hinder identification. On Sunday, police arrested her husband, Balaram Dehuri, and her in-laws, Jagannath and Happy Dehuri, for their involvement in the crime.

During a press briefing, Cuttack DCP Jagmohan Meena detailed the investigation. A scientific team, dog squad, and multiple police units worked together to gather evidence, examine CCTV footage, and review missing persons reports. Tattoos on the victim's hands were widely publicized, but they yielded no leads.

The key breakthrough came from a blood-stained shirt and pants found at the crime scene, bearing a paper receipt from “New Star Tailors.” Police meticulously investigated over 10 tailors in Odisha with a similar name but found no matches. Eventually, a tip-off led them to Bhanjanagar, where a local tailor linked the receipt to shops in Gujarat.

With assistance from Gujarat Police, Odisha Police traced the receipt to a tailor shop in Surat. This discovery enabled them to intercept Jagannath Dehuri on a Surat-bound train and apprehend the other two accused in Odisha.

According to DCP Meena, the husband believed his wife was involved in an extramarital affair, which drove him to commit the crime. The police's swift action and use of forensic clues highlighted their commitment to solving the case.