Cameraman Manas Swain demanded Rs 10k to return chip

The Crime Branch (CB) has taken accused Sarmista Rout, Jhuna Bhoi on three days police remand in the second phase in connection with Manas Swain murder case.

As per investigation, the memory chip was there with Manas last. CB team had conducted search at his native place Ranpur yesterday for the memory chip. Again CB team conducted search in two places in Bhubaneswar where Manas had stayed. However the chip is yet to be located.

During interrogation it has further come to light that Manas was staying in Dayal Ashram from January 10th onwards. On 30.1.2022, both Sarmistha and Niranjan had called Manas to Sampoorna office and asked him to give them the chip with video recording, for which both of them assaulted Manas in the office and took him to Dayal Ashram as he was staying there. From there Sarmistha and Niranjan took away the camera of Manas. Next day, Manas left the Ashram and stayed at different places in Bhubaneswar.

Subsequently Manas had also demanded to give him Rs ten thousand and his camera from Sharmistha for returning the chip, said CB an official.
On 5.2.2022 Manas along with Deepak went to Chandbali for marriage shoot. On getting this information Sharmistha along with other accused person kidnapped Manas in order to get back the chip from him, he added.