ACF Soumya Death Case: Wife, Former DFO Move Orissa HC Against Lower Court’s Summons

Cuttack: In a latest development in former Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra’s death case, his wife Bidya Bharati Panda and former Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sangram Behera have moved Orissa High Court challenging the order issued by a lower court.

According to sources, both Bidyabharati and Behera have filed separate petitions in the High Court challenging Paralakhemundi SDJM court’s April order asking the duo along with cook Manmath Kumbha to appear before it. They have made the Odisha government and Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra’s father Abhiram respondents to their petitions.

The SDJM court had issued the summon order after analysing the petition filed by the deceased’s father, statements recorded and other documents while observing that the allegations of murder and criminal conspiracy are worth trial. The trial was to be conducted against the three pertaining to murder and criminal conspiracy under Section 302 and 120 (B) of the IPC. The court had fixed April 27 as the next date of hearing.

It may be recalled here that Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra was rescued from his official quarters in Paralakhemundi with 90 per cent burn injuries on July 12, 2021, and succumbed the next day at a private hospital in Cuttack. The deceased’s family members had later alleged that his spouse and DFO Behera could be behind the incident, giving a controversial twist to the tragic death of the young forest officer.