Cuttack: A local court has rejected the bail plea of Bhimsen Prasad Tudu, the prime accused in the death of medical student Chandrika Bhanjabala Hembram, citing the seriousness of the case, the possibility of evidence being tampered with, and the ongoing investigation.

The bail application was rejected by the Court of the District and Sessions Judge in Cuttack. Bhimsen had moved the court seeking regular bail after his arrest in connection with the case.

Before his arrest, Bhimsen had approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail. However, since he has already been arrested and is currently in judicial custody, he will now have to file a fresh regular bail petition before the High Court if he wishes to challenge the Sessions Court's order.

Police sources said the investigation has yielded substantial evidence pointing to Bhimsen's alleged role in creating circumstances that drove Chandrika to take the extreme step. Investigators have reportedly gathered material to establish that he subjected Chandrika to prolonged mental harassment and allegedly created conditions that led to her death.

Bhimsen was arrested on June 13 after the Commissionerate Police claimed to have collected sufficient evidence linking him to the circumstances surrounding Chandrika's death. Police had stated that the accused's actions allegedly drove the 29-year-old MBBS student to end her life.

Chandrika, a third-year MBBS student at Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital in Balasore, was found dead after her body was recovered from the Kathajodi River near Trisulia Bridge in Cuttack on June 4.

The investigation revealed that Chandrika and Bhimsen had been in a relationship since their Plus-II days and had planned to marry in 2027. However, the relationship allegedly turned sour after Bhimsen developed close ties with another woman. Police have also said that he ignored Chandrika, made disparaging remarks about her complexion and profession, and ended the relationship.

Investigators are examining digital and forensic evidence, including call records and data recovered from Bhimsen's mobile phone, to establish the sequence of events leading up to Chandrika's death. Police have maintained that the investigation is continuing and that further legal action will be taken based on the evidence collected.