Anugola: In a significant verdict, a court in Anugola district sentenced a man to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh after convicting him in connection with the rape and murder of Subhadra Padil in April 2025.

Fast Track Court Ad hoc Additional District Judge Biranchi Narayan Mishra convicted Bishu Gochhayat in the much-discussed Subhadra Padil rape and murder case.

The court found Gochhayat guilty under Sections 64(1) (rape), 66, 103(1) (murder) and 238(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). It also reprimanded police ASI Ritanjali Pradhan for alleged negligence in handling the case and directed the concerned department to initiate departmental action against her.

According to the case details, 25-year-old Subhadra Padil, a resident of Ludhajhar village under Kaniha block, had left for Talcher Road railway station on April 26, 2025, to travel to Bhubaneswar for work at a private organisation. She subsequently went missing.

After she could not be traced, her family lodged a complaint at Kaniha police station on April 30, 2025.

On May 4, 2025, Subhadra’s partially burnt and injured body was recovered from a field near Kusupangi under Banarpal police station limits.

The incident had triggered widespread anger and tension in the local area.

Anugola Police investigated the case with the assistance of a scientific team and sniffer dogs. The prosecution subsequently presented the evidence gathered during the investigation before the court, leading to Gochhayat’s conviction.