Balasore, July 18: A 38-year-old engineer from the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Balasore just hours after attending his wife’s birthday celebration. While the incident was initially reported as a case of suicide, the deceased’s family has alleged that he was murdered over an alleged extramarital affair and that the death was staged to appear as suicide.The deceased has been identified as Rashmiranjan Sethi (38), a resident of Anla village in Jagatsinghpur district. He was serving as an engineer in the R&B Department under the Cuttack Division and was residing in Bhubaneswar.According to family members, Rashmiranjan travelled from Bhubaneswar to Balasore on Wednesday to celebrate the birthday of his wife, Rashmirekha Bhuyan (30), who works under the National Health Mission (NHM) at the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital. The couple reportedly celebrated her birthday until late Thursday night at her residence in Biju Patnaik Colony near Azimabad under Sahadevkhunta police limits.The family alleged that shortly after the celebration, Rashmiranjan died under suspicious circumstances. They were informed by Rashmirekha’s brother, Kishan Bhuyan, that he had died by suicide. However, they claim that Rashmiranjan was murdered and the incident was deliberately projected as a case of suicide. The family also alleged that Rashmirekha and others left the hospital after abandoning the body.The deceased’s relatives further alleged that Rashmirekha had previously developed an alleged extramarital relationship with a colleague, Debashish Swain, while both were posted in Karanjia. They claimed frequent disputes had arisen between the couple after Rashmiranjan objected to the alleged relationship and that he had been threatened to remain silent.According to the family, around six months ago, Rashmirekha and the same colleague were transferred together to the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital without informing Rashmiranjan. They suspect that Rashmiranjan’s visit to Balasore for his wife’s birthday ended in a pre-planned murder.The family has named Rashmirekha, Debashish Swain, a man identified as Prashant, who reportedly works at Debashish’s petrol pump, and several others as being responsible for the alleged crime. They have demanded a fair and impartial investigation into the circumstances leading to Rashmiranjan’s death, including who shifted him to the hospital and why those present allegedly fled before the family arrived.Meanwhile, Sahadevkhunta police have launched an investigation. Inspector Alok Kumar Behera said the body was recovered from the hospital and sent for post-mortem examination. Based on a written complaint lodged by the deceased’s uncle, Laxmidhar Sethi, police have registered a case and initiated an investigation. Officials said more than two persons are being questioned in connection with the incident.Rashmiranjan and Rashmirekha had married in 2023 in a love marriage. Following the incident, the mobile phones of Rashmirekha and the man named in the family’s complaint have reportedly been switched off, and police are looking into their whereabouts.Police said the exact cause of death will be determined after the post-mortem report and completion of the investigation. The allegations made by the deceased’s family are currently under investigation and have not been independently verified
Engineer found dead hours after wife’s birthday celebration in Balasore; Family alleges murder over extramarital affair
