Balasore, March 17: Balasore police today claimed to have solved the mystery behind the death of 32-year-old judicial officer Anupama Behera, who was found dead at her official residence on Friday night.

Two persons were taken into custody and the police said an extramarital relation was behind the murder.

Jyotiranjan Mohanty, 39, a clerk in the Nayagarh court, and his younger brother Priyaranjan Mohanty, 32, an employee of Bhusan Steel were arrested.

Balasore superintendent of police Amrita Dash said: “Jyotiranjan masterminded the murder and his younger brother Priyaranjan executed it. It was a planned murder.”

Dash said an extramarital affair between Jyotiranjan and Anupama had become the source of discord in the suspect’s family. Jyotiranjan’s wife had attempted suicide several times. To restore peace in the family, Jyotiranjan conspired to kill Anupama.

Anupama was married to Sukanta Jena, a doctor, in 2009. But they were estranged. Taking advantage of their marital discord, Jyotiranjan formed an intimate relationship with Anupama, when the two were serving at Ranapur in Nayagarh district. Anupama and Jyotiranjan even got married in 2010 at Bhadrakali temple in Bhadrak district, said Dash.

Both brothers used to visit Anupama’s official residence and often stayed at her house. Neighbours and staff members thought Jyotiranjan was Anupama’s husband and Priyaranjan her brother-in-law.

The police said that on Thursday evening, Priyaranjan had come to her house. The two had dinner together and went to sleep. Between 4am and 5.30am the next morning, Priyaranjan allegedly attacked Anupama with a kitchen knife. Then she was throttled and smothered to death with the help of a pillow. Soon after she was killed, Priyaranjan fled to Angul.

On Friday night, the neighbours and judicial staff had found her dead and on Saturday, her body was sent for post-mortem.

The police said these facts came to light during investigation. The cops first apprehended Jyotiranjan from Nayagarh. Priyaranjan was nabbed yesterday evening from Angul.

A case under sections 302 (murder) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) has been registered, said the police, adding that the accused would be produced in court tomorrow.