A foul smell from a rented house in Puri led to a disturbing discovery on Monday, 24 August. Police found a decomposed woman’s body hidden inside a box-like structure beneath the kitchen slab.
The woman had not been seen for several days. Her son, who lived with her, was also missing.
Police are now looking for the son and investigating whether he was involved in his mother’s death. However, his role has not been established, and the exact cause of the woman’s death is yet to be determined.
What Happened?
The woman and her son had been living in a rented house in Kumbharapada, Puri, for around two months.
Their landlady, Manorama Sahu, noticed a strong foul smell coming from the house. She initially thought it could be a dead animal, but the smell became stronger.
The house was empty, and the woman had not been seen for days. Her son was also missing.
Sahu alerted the police, who then inspected the property.
The Kitchen Raised Suspicion
Police noticed fresh cement work around the kitchen slab.
There were also signs of wastewater and other material coming from underneath it. The foul smell appeared to be coming from the same area.
A police team, forensic personnel and an executive magistrate reached the house. Police spent around three hours breaking open the box-like structure beneath the slab.
They eventually recovered the woman’s decomposed body. The remains were sent for post-mortem examination.
Who Was The Woman?
The victim was an elderly woman who lived in the house with her son.
Hindustan Times reported that police had not initially confirmed her identity. A separate report identified her as a woman around 65 years old who reportedly sold bottled water near the Jagannath Temple in Puri.
Her son, Madan Dalei, was reportedly in his 40s and originally from Parlakhemundi in Gajapati district. These details were reported by local media and were still subject to confirmation during the investigation.
Why Is Her Son Under Suspicion?
The son’s disappearance is a key part of the investigation.
Police said the mother and son had not been seen since around 21 August. Dalei’s phone was reportedly switched off, and police were trying to trace him.
According to Puri SP Prateek Singh, the landlady also told police that Dalei frequently appeared to be under the influence of drugs and often argued with his mother.
The drug-related detail is part of the information police are examining. It does not establish that drug use was responsible for the woman’s death or that it was the motive.
For now, Dalei remains a suspect, and police have not established his guilt.
What Police Found And What Happens Next
Police suspect the body was deliberately concealed inside a box-like structure beneath the kitchen slab, which had been covered with cement.
The body was sent for post-mortem, while forensic teams examined the house and collected evidence. Police are also trying to trace the missing son and examining technical evidence.
Investigators are now working to establish how and when the woman died, who concealed her body and what happened inside the house. SP Prateek Singh said the motive and sequence of events were still being investigated.
