Odisha ZP Member’s Suicide: 2 Mobile Phones Sent For Forensic Test; Cong Seeks Impartial Probe

Bhubaneswar: The Twin City Commissionerate Police on Sunday sent two mobile phones of BJD Zilla Parishad member Dharmendra Sahoo, who was found hanging at his residence in Odisha capital the previous day, to the State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL).

Sahoo’s body was recovered from his residence at Laxmi Vihar in Sisupalgarh under Dhauli police limits on Saturday. The 48-year-old politician represented the Zilla Parishad Zone no 11 under Gop. The two mobile phones were recovered from the bushes near his house.

Hours before allegedly ending his life, he had uploaded a post on his social media account and urged the police to thoroughly examine the contents of his mobile phones. He had reported being keeping unwell for the past few months and mentioned about being recently discharged from a hospital here in one of the videos while adding that there were some disturbances in his family due to his political career. He also hit out at a journalist alleging he was spreading fake news against him.

“I will quit politics and abstain from social service if any of the rumours being spread by a particular media is proved against me. We will see in the High Court and Supreme Court,” Sahoo said in a video message.

Sahoo’s father-in-law alleged that he was addicted to alcohol and had forced his nephew, who was staying with him, to leave the house on Friday evening. He also threatened his wife with dire consequences, following which his father-in-law took her and his grandson to his place at 10 pm.

Meanwhile, a Congress delegation met Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh and demanded an impartial probe to find the veracity of the allegations over Mass Education Minister Samir Dash’s involvement in his death.

Terming it as a well-planned murder, senior BJP leader and party’s State vice-president Pravati Parida had on Saturday alleged that Sahoo took the extreme step as a senior leader of the BJD was interfering in his family matters. He blamed Dash for his marital discord for which Sahoo had attempted suicide a fortnight ago.

Responding to the allegation, the Minister expressed his ignorance about the case. “I have no idea about the matter. I will speak only after getting to know about the case.”