Puri Mother Murder Case: Son Arrested in Jharkhand After 57-Day Manhunt
Puri: In a major breakthrough, police have arrested Madan Gajanan Dalei, the prime accused in the sensational murder of his mother, Annapurna Dalei, after an extensive 57-day manhunt.
He was apprehended in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, where he had allegedly taken shelter while working at a local snack shop.
The case came to light on August 24 after the landlord of a rented house in Puri reported a foul smell emanating from the locked premises.
During the investigation, police noticed a freshly cemented portion of the kitchen floor.
Excavation later revealed the body of a woman buried beneath the structure. Investigators subsequently identified the deceased as Annapurna Dalei.
According to police, the victim is believed to have died on August 20.
Preliminary findings suggested that the body had been concealed under a concrete layer in an alleged attempt to destroy evidence and evade detection.
The exact circumstances surrounding the death remain under investigation.
To track the accused, investigators analysed CCTV footage, mobile phone records, and gathered intelligence from multiple locations.
Police teams also questioned relatives and associates in different states as part of the search operation.
The investigation reportedly led authorities through several states, including Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a special police team finally traced and arrested Madan Gajanan Dalei in Jamshedpur before bringing him back to Puri for further interrogation.
Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh said the accused was taken into custody and questioned in connection with the crime.
The arrest marks a significant development in one of the district’s most shocking recent criminal cases.
Police have indicated that the investigation will continue to establish the motive and other circumstances linked to the alleged murder.
