Gajapati murder case 2025: Class 8 Girl, 13, Murders Woman Who Rescued and Adopted Her as a Newborn in Odisha’s Gajapati

Gajapati murder case 2025: In a chilling and tragic incident that has left the people of Odisha stunned, a 13-year-old girl has been arrested for allegedly murdering the very woman who had rescued and adopted her when she was just three days old. The shocking crime took place on April 29 in Paralakhemundi town, Gajapati district, and involved two other young men who are also in police custody.

The victim, 54-year-old Rajalaxmi Kar, had been living with her adopted daughter in a rented house in Paralakhemundi after moving there for the girl’s education. Rajalaxmi had rescued the child from the roadside in Bhubaneswar over a decade ago, raising her as her own despite her own health struggles and limited means.

However, behind closed doors, a dark plot was brewing.

Motive: Property and a Forbidden Relationship

According to Gajapati Superintendent of Police Jatindra Kumar Panda, the motive behind the gruesome act was Rajalaxmi’s disapproval of her daughter’s romantic relationship with two local youths — Ganesh Rath (21), a temple priest, and Dinesh Sahu (20). Police allege that Rath, with support from Sahu, manipulated the young girl into believing that killing Rajalaxmi would free them to be together and grant access to her modest assets.

The accused reportedly plotted the murder meticulously through Instagram Messenger chats, which later became key evidence. Rajalaxmi was also said to own over 70 grams of gold ornaments and some cash savings — assets that the trio hoped to loot.

The Murder: A Calculated Betrayal

On the night of April 29, the girl reportedly administered sleeping pills to Rajalaxmi. Once she was unconscious, she called in Rath and Sahu. Together, they smothered her with pillows until she stopped breathing. An attempt was made to pass the death off as a heart attack — a plausible story, as Rajalaxmi had a documented history of heart problems.

The very next day, the accused rushed her body to Bhubaneswar and conducted a quiet cremation, with no postmortem, convincing relatives that she had passed away naturally.

The Truth Unravels

The façade began to crumble when Rajalaxmi’s brother, Siba Prasad Mishra, discovered a hidden mobile phone belonging to the girl while staying in Bhubaneswar. The device contained incriminating messages exchanged between the girl and the two men, outlining their plan to murder Rajalaxmi and loot her valuables.

Mishra immediately lodged an FIR with Paralakhemundi police, prompting a swift investigation.

During the probe, police recovered three mobile phones, two pillows believed to be used in the murder, and about 30 grams of stolen gold ornaments. It was also revealed that some of the ornaments had already been pawned by Rath for approximately ₹2.4 lakh, which he allegedly used to purchase a motorcycle and fund travel across Odisha.

A Community in Shock

Locals who knew Rajalaxmi remember her as a kind and soft-spoken woman who lived a simple life. Her act of adopting an abandoned infant years ago had been seen as one of great compassion. That the same child could now be accused of orchestrating her murder has left the community heartbroken and grappling with disbelief.

The 13-year-old girl is currently in juvenile custody, while Rath and Sahu have been booked under charges of murder, conspiracy, and theft.

As police continue their investigation, the case raises unsettling questions about the vulnerability of trust, the dangers of online manipulation, and the tragic outcome of a woman’s selfless act of love.