Koraput: Former Rajya Sabha MP N Bhaskar Rao surrendered before the court of sub-divisional judicial magistrate (SDJM), Jyotirmoyee Sarangi, in Rayagada on Monday in connection with the 2010 murder of tribal leader Bhagirathi Mandangi. The surrender comes following Supreme Court’s decision to cancel the bail granted to Rao. He was subsequently remanded to judicial custody and sent to Rayagada sub jail.Three other accused in the case also surrendered, while the fifth accused, Adinarayan Rao, did not appear before the court.On Oct 26, an SC bench, comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva, set aside Orissa high court’s Jan 22, 2026, order and the subsequent bail order passed by the Rayagada SDJM court on Jan 30. The apex court directed Rao and the other accused to surrender within two weeks.The order came on a petition filed by the original complainant, Jagannath Mandangi, younger brother of the deceased, challenging the high court’s decision. The apex court held that after rejecting the anticipatory bail pleas, the high court could not direct the trial court to grant regular bail, as such applications had to be considered independently on their merits. However, it left the accused free to approach the competent court for regular bail in accordance with law.Ahead of their surrender, a large number of Rao’s supporters reportedly visited his residence.“As directed by Supreme Court, they have surrendered. We will approach the higher court in accordance with the law,” said Nabakumar Konta, advocate of the four accused.The case dates back to Dec 15, 2010, when Mandangi, a prominent tribal leader and member of the Maa Majhighariani temple trust in Rayagada, went missing. His partially burnt body was later recovered near the Thotapalli reservoir, about 70 km from Rayagada, in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Reports that his hands and legs had been tied triggered widespread protests by tribal organisations, which alleged that he was murdered for raising questions about irregularities in the temple’s management.A case was registered at Rayagada police station on Dec 23, 2010, under IPC Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 364 (kidnapping) and 34 (common intention). The investigation was subsequently transferred to the Odisha crime branch on April 5, 2011.In Nov 2024, the Rayagada SDJM court issued non-bailable warrants against six persons, including Rao. Eipili Sanyasi Raju, Adinarayan Rao, K Krishna Rao and P Dileep Kumar are among the other accused in the case.Meanwhile, Rao is also facing scrutiny in a separate financial irregularities case involving the alleged misappropriation of around Rs 60 crore belonging to the Rayagada Truck Owners’ Association. On Nov 7, the economic offences wing (EOW) of the Odisha crime branch conducted simultaneous searches at 11 locations linked to him in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.Rao, who served as a Rajya Sabha MP from 2016 to 2022, resigned from the Biju Janata Dal in 2025 and subsequently floated the Biju Swabhiman Manch. He had also announced plans to field candidates in the forthcoming panchayat elections.