The Bhubaneswar District & Sessions Judge Court acquitted accused siblings Sukant Pradhan and Prashant Pradhan due to lack of evidence in the case.

Both the brothers were accused in the gang rape of a 19-year-old dalit girl from Pipili.

Notably, the Dalit girl was found in a semi-nude and unconscious state near her house in Arjungoda village of Pipili, on November 29, 2011.

A case was registered by the family members alleging gang rape and a murder attempt on the girl. The victim was under the treatment at the SCB Medical College & Hospital in a critical condition after she was allegedly subjected to rape and then attempts of murder through strangulation. She died on June 21, 2012 after battling for life at the SCB Medical College & Hospital for more than five months.

The alleged gang rape and death of the dalit girl had put the State government in the dock. A cabinet minister in Naveen-government had to lose his job and a police officer was dismissed from service in the controversy.

The commission Justice PK Mohanty probing the alleged gang rape and murder had submitted a 400-page final report to the Home Department on March 30, 2016. However, the probe report is yet to be made public.