Court Issues Arrest Warrant for N. Bhaskar Rao in 2010 Murder Case

Rayagada: Former Rajya Sabha Member and BJD leader N. Bhaskar Rao has found himself in legal trouble after a court issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) for his arrest in connection with a 2010 murder case. The Rayagada Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Court issued the arrest warrant against Bhaskar Rao and five others following a petition filed by Jagannath Manangi, the younger brother of the murder victim, Bhagirathi Manangi.

Bhagirathi Manangi, a BJD leader, was found dead in December 2010, with his half-burnt body discovered in a river, a stone tied to it. His family filed a case alleging murder, leading to a Crime Branch investigation ordered by the Odisha government. However, the case saw little progress over the next 13 years.

In February this year, Jagannath Manangi filed another petition in the SDJM Court, leading to the issuance of the arrest warrant. Bhaskar Rao, who currently serves as the Biju Janata Dal’s Rayagada District President, now faces significant legal challenges as the investigation into his alleged involvement in the murder continues.