Five Sentenced to Life in 2023 Sushant Nayak Murder Case

Bhubaneswar: A local court in Bhubaneswar has sentenced five individuals to life imprisonment in connection with the brutal 2023 murder of Sushant Nayak, a housekeeping staff at the Central Horticultural Experiment Station (CHES) in Aiginia.

The verdict was delivered by Additional District Judge Bandana Kar, who convicted Vishal Nayak, Sujit Nayak, Ajit Nayak, Tikili Nayak, and Subash Nayak in the high-profile case. In addition to life terms, each convict has been fined ₹25,000. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional year of imprisonment.

The incident occurred in the early hours of May 24, 2023, near GED basti under the Capital Police Station limits. Sushant was returning home after dropping his wife, a BMC worker, when he was chased down and hacked to death by the accused using a sword and other lethal weapons.

According to the police, the motive behind the murder stemmed from a molestation complaint lodged by Sushant’s family against Vishal Nayak. Vishal had allegedly molested Sushant’s niece in April 2023, and a formal complaint was filed on April 25 at the Capital Police Station. In retaliation, Sujit Nayak and his relatives orchestrated and executed the murder.

Following the crime, all five accused fled the scene. A special police operation tracked and arrested them from various locations in Cuttack, Nayagarh, and Khordha districts.

The court’s judgment brings closure to a case that had drawn widespread attention and sparked public outrage, highlighting the importance of swift justice in crimes driven by revenge and intimidation.