After HC Notice To Odisha Govt, BJP Seeks CBI Probe Into Laxmanananda Saraswati Murder, Publication Of Inquiry Panel Report

Bhubaneswar: After the Orissa High Court issued notice to the state government over a plea for CBI probe into the murder of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday demanded that the reports of judicial commissions that probed the killing be made public forthwith.

Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, BJP stalwart and Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Jayanarayan Mishra hailed the High Court’s notice and said that the state government must make public the reports of two judicial commissions that probed the sensational killing without delay.

The senior BJP leader also demanded a CBI inquiry into the killing of Saraswati and four of his disciples in August, 2008 at his Japespata ashram in Kandhamal district.

This apart, the state government must take immediate steps for the publication of the report of the Justice AS Naidu Commission of Inquiry that probed the sensational murder, Mishra said.

The BJP leader lashed out at the state government for not ‘providing’ security to Saraswati even after a murder attempt was made against him on December 25, 2007, eight months before he was on Janmashtami day on August 23, 2008.

Stating that the VHP leader underwent treatment in a hospital for many days, he said the state government had announced security for him, but Saraswati was brutally killed.

Almost 15 years have passed, but the state government is yet to make the interim report submitted by Justice (retd) Sarat Mohapatra and the final report by Justice (retd) A S Naidu public, Mishra said.

Alleging a big conspiracy behind not making public the reports of the two inquiry commissions, the BJP leader demanded that the probe reports be made public through the state Assembly.

It may be noted here that the High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Odisha government seeking to know as to why a CBI probe would not be conducted into the murder. It has sought a reply before the next day of hearing on March 5.