Justice has finally prevailed in Odisha after a Ganjam district court sentenced five men to life behind bars for the shocking robbery and murder of a local businessman in Berhampur. The crime, which horrified the community back in 2020, saw trader Lambodar Muni savagely killed in his own warehouse.
It was a quiet night on June 13, 2020, in the Hillpatna neighborhood of Berhampur. Muni, who ran Mahalaxmi Bhandar as the distributor for Heritage Milk Products, was asleep in his office warehouse when intruders forced their way in. Driven by greed, the robbers not only looted 10 lakh in cash and gold ornaments weighing 20-25 grams but also ended Muni’s life in cold blood before vanishing into the night.
The case initially stalled under local police scrutiny, leading Muni’s grieving son to file a petition in the Odisha High Court over investigative shortcomings. Responding to the court’s order dated September 27, 2023, the Crime Branch registered a new FIR on December 1, 2023, and swiftly apprehended the culprits: Rupesh Padhi (Shiva Mahakud), Ranjeet Sahu (Naka), Sri Nu Patra, and Shankar Sahu.
Stolen goods were recovered and verified by the victim’s family members. Over the course of the trial, the prosecution presented compelling evidence from 41 witnesses, CCTV recordings, and mobile call records that nailed the accused. Conviction came on January 28, 2026, with life sentences pronounced this Friday.
This outcome highlights the effectiveness of higher judicial intervention and specialized police units in cracking tough cases. For Berhampur’s trading community, it’s a reassuring signal that the law will catch up with even the most brazen offenders.