Overview

• The victim suffered catastrophic burns estimated between 80% and 95% of his body before being moved from a community health centre to Capital Hospital and then to AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
• In an audio-video dying declaration, the 42-year-old accused his father, Surendranath Mathia, stepmother Pravati Mathia and stepbrother Prasant Kumar Mathia of pouring petrol on him and setting him ablaze.
• Police registered a murder case based on the victim’s recorded testimony and arrested the three relatives, who were produced in court and sent to judicial remand.
• Investigators believe a long-standing family land dispute motivated the attack and are probing alleged neighbour complicity at the behest of the victim’s wife.
• The victim’s wife had previously filed complaints alleging harassment and a wrongful land transfer to her husband’s stepfamily, which authorities say they are reviewing alongside forensic evidence.