HC Notice To Odisha Govt Over Plea For CBI Probe Into Laxmanananda Saraswati Killing

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the state government while hearing a petition demanding a CBI probe into the killing of VHP’s Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati in Kandhamal district 15 years ago.

The VHP leader and four of his disciples were killed at his Jalespeta Ashram in Kandhamal district on Janmashtami on August 23, 2008.

Though the Odisha government had ordered a Crime Branch investigation into the incident, it was unable to unravel the exact mystery behind the sensational murder of Saraswati even as Maoist involvement was suspected in the killing.

Advocate Debasish Hota, who in a petition has demanded a CBI probe, said that the Crime Branch conducted the probe by overlooking four important aspects.

Stating that Laxmanananda Saraswati was working against religious conversion, and trafficking of cattle and worked for the development of tribals, he said the erstwhile UPA government was in power and it had withdrawn CRPF jawans who were deployed for Saraswati’s security on August 15, 2008.

Eight days later, Odisha Police personnel were not present and the leader was killed, the petitioner said, holding both the UPA and BJD governments are responsible for this. The High Court, he said, has directed the state government to submit a response by March 5 as to why a CBI probe will not be ordered into the case.