Counsel Of Deceased ACF’s Family Seeks Arrest Of Forest Officer’s Wife Bidyabharati

Paralakhemundi: Even as the Crime Branch on Thursday claimed that there were circumstantial evidences suggesting that Paralakhemundi Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra had sustained burn injuries in his official quarters, the counsel of the ACF’s family demanded arrest of his wife Bidyabharati Panda.

“Police should immediately arrest Bidyabharati whose custodial interrogation will reveal the complicity of the Paralakhemundi DFO Sangram Behera in the case,”  said Parthasarathi Nayak, the counsel.

Stating that there were no legal hurdles to arrest Bidyabharati on the basis of the evidence collected by the police, Nayak said they can get the details of the crime on the basis of her letter indicating hatred for her husband.

Earlier, Crime Branch DSP Bijay Kumar Mallick said there were burnt marks on a portion of the backdoor of the house and a mosquito net.

The ACF was rescued from his official quarters with over 90 per cent burns on July 12 and he succumbed to the injuries at a private hospital in Cuttack a day later.

Also Read: New Twist In Odisha ACF’s Death: Crime Branch Finds Evidence Of Fire In Official Quarters