Dasburma Aide Murder: Wife Does An About-Turn, Urges All Not To Play Politics

Bhubaneswar: Two days after pointing accusing fingers at BJD leader and State Planning Board Deputy Chairperson Sanjay Dasburma, wife of Chitta Ranjan Palie, Subhadra, on Friday requested all not to politicise his mysterious death.

“Let Crime Branch carry on with its probe. Jagannath Sarangi was with him. But he alone can’t do this. Someone else is involved in the murder,” she said.

She also reposed faith in the ongoing investigation and Dasburma.

On Wednesday, Subhadra had said that the Crime Branch should bring Dasburma and Jagannath under the purview of investigation. “My husband had gone with Jaga to attend a feast. Since my husband was having some dispute with Dasburma, I suspect that he might have hatched a plan to eliminate him,” she had said.

She had further told the media that Dasburma, who was at Sadar police station, had assured the family that he would reach home by Sunday night, but his body was found floating in Nuanai the following morning.

The Odisha unit of Congress here has demanded the arrest of the BJD leader for his alleged involvement in his aide’s murder.

Briefing the media, Congress’ Manoj Mohapatra said that Chitta’s uncle Purna Chandra Palei had lodged a complaint against the BJD leader. Accusing the police of working at the behest of the state government, he challenged them to arrest him. “If the police have guts, it should arrest him. We have been demanding HC-monitored SIT to probe the case,” he added.

Notably, Chitta’s sister Gili Palei and uncle had alleged that he was murdered in a planned manner by his friend Jagannath Sarangi over repayment of Rs 3 lakh which the latter took from him.

The BJP, which has been pressing for Dasburma’s resignation, also suspect that the Crime Branch may shield the former BJD minister. Demanding justice for Chitta, the saffron party led by its MLAs also organised a massive rally in Brahmagiri.

Meanwhile, the probe team headed by DSP Sisir Mishra visited Jaga’s rented residence at Matiapada.

On Thursday, it had recorded statements of Chitta’s family members and the villager, who had first spotted the body. The officials also visited the picnic spot where Chitta and his friends had reportedly gathered on Saturday night.

Besides Jagannath, Suryakant Mishra and Umakant Paikray, Dasburma’s PSO Sarbeswar Jena and Chitta’s nephew, Dillip Palei, who were also present at the feast hosted by  Jagannath, were also grilled at Baselisahi police station. The CB officials later recorded their statements.