Commissionerate Police on Wednesday arrested a retired government official for stabbing his wife to death at their residence at Swastik Nagar in Kuha village under Airfield police limits in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar.
The accused, identified as 62-year-old Debaraj Sarangi, was a former senior accountant at the AG Office who had retired approximately two years ago. Originally from Nayagarh district, Sarangi had been residing with his 55-year-old wife, Priyamvada, in the Swastik Nagar area following his retirement.
According to police sources, the couple became embroiled in a heated argument on Wednesday. The dispute reportedly escalated into a physical scuffle when Sarangi, who was allegedly experiencing significant mental stress, insisted on leaving the house—a move his wife opposed.
In a sudden fit of rage, the accused reportedly assaulted the victim with his fists before attacking her with a knife. He inflicted multiple stab wounds to her face and neck, resulting in her death at the scene.
Following the incident, Sarangi reportedly handed over some cash and his wife’s gold ornaments to their daughter, who resides with her in-laws in the Patrapada area of the capital city.
Later, he went to the Airfield police station and surrendered, confessing to the crime.
The couple’s daughter, Arpita, told the media that her father had been battling a liver infection for the last six months. She noted that his health had been declining, with worsening diabetes and gradual weight loss, which had left him in a state of constant anxiety regarding his recovery.
She added that just yesterday, she had tried to console her father and assured him that he would recover soon.
The investigating officials, during the investigation, ascertained that Sarangi had a long-standing history of diabetes, high blood pressure, and liver-related ailments. These chronic health issues, officials noted, had led the retired official into a state of severe mental depression.
Police sources further stated that their preliminary investigation revealed that Sarangi was suffering from acute mental stress and insomnia at the time of the incident. It was in this sudden, aggressive state that he committed the crime.
Following his surrender and subsequent confession, Sarangi was arrested by the police. He was later produced before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody.
