The man, Santosh Nayak, of Lendhei village in Tarsingi area, was arrested yesterday by forest personnel, while two others were absconding, Divisional forest officer, Ghumusar (North) K C Mishra said.
"The man confessed that they had laid the electric wires to kill wild boar," the DFO said.
The 35-year-old female elephant and its calf were found electrocuted in Kanakhai jungle under Khallikote forest range.