Overview
- The body of third-year MBBS student Chandrika Hembram was recovered from the Kathajodi river on June 4 and a post-mortem recorded drowning and asphyxiation with no external injuries.
- Hembram's family has rejected the suicide finding and called the death a planned murder, saying she and Bhimsen Prasad Tudu had a 14-year relationship and that tensions rose after he joined the Odisha Administrative Service.
- Police say they arrested OAS officer Bhimsen Prasad Tudu on Friday night in Mayurbhanj district and brought him to the Barang police station in Cuttack for questioning.
- Investigators have seized Tudu's laptop and tablet along with the victim's phone and say WhatsApp and other digital data provide a prima facie lead as forensic and IT teams examine the devices.
- Authorities say further forensic results and digital analysis will determine whether charges follow and could change the present cause-of-death finding, with the probe and possible remand expected next.