Somnath and Ushashree Parida

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 17: Police today submitted charge sheet in the Ushashree Parida murder case saying that a heavy torch might have been used to batter the 60-year-old woman to death.

Ushashree’s husband Somnath Parida, 71, a retired army doctor, was arrested in connection with the murder on June 21.

The police investigation has ruled out involvement of any other person other than the accused.

“A heavy torch found from the couple’s house might have been used by the doctor to batter Ushashree’s head,” said a senior police officer, referring to the charge sheet.

“We had sent the torch for examination and the experts told that an assault with the torch could have led to fatal head injuries. The post-mortem report had shown that she had been hit on the head with a heavy blunt object,” the officer said.

Another police official said that the 70-page charge sheet had been prepared on the basis of circumstantial evidence and the information obtained by examining 29 witnesses, including the son and daughter of the couple, the brother of Ushashree, the family’s gardener and the domestic help.

In the absence of an eyewitness, the case has become a challenge for the police.

Police officials exuded confidence that the charge sheet would stand scrutiny of the court of law and help nail Somnath.

“We have submitted the charge sheet within the stipulated timeframe. We have sufficient circumstantial evidence to prove Somnath guilty,” said police commissioner R.P. Sharma.

The murder which took place on June 3. The police arrested Somnath on June 21.