Berhampur: Police have arrested the nephew of Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena in connection with the alleged abetment of suicide of a 20-year-old woman student at a private engineering college in Ganjam district.

The accused, identified as 24-year-old Biswajit Jena, was taken into custody on Sunday. He was reportedly the boyfriend of the deceased, a Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) student at the same institution.

The student was found hanging from the ceiling of her hostel room on Saturday. Following a complaint lodged by her maternal uncle, Golanthara Police registered a case against Biswajit Jena under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with abetment of suicide.

Berhampur Superintendent of Police Saravana Vivek M said an investigation was launched immediately after the case was registered. Senior police officials, including the SP, visited the college hostel, while a scientific team and an executive magistrate also inspected the scene.

According to police, the deceased was sharing the hostel room with her sister and three other students. During the investigation, the scientific team collected digital and other forensic evidence. Electronic devices belonging to both the deceased and the accused have been seized for scientific and technical examination.

The complaint alleged that Biswajit Jena, who was also pursuing a BCA course at the same college, was involved in circumstances that led to the student's death.

Police said the exact cause of death will be determined after the post-mortem report is received. The investigation is continuing, and further action will be taken based on the findings.