High Court Directs Odisha Crime Branch To Complete Probe In Anand Toppo Death Case In 6 Months

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Friday directed the Crime Branch of the state police to complete investigation into the death of Anand Toppo, friend of international hockey player Birendra Lakra, within six months.

The High Court asked the Crime Branch to complete its investigation and submit the probe report within six months.

The direction came two days after the HC sought clarification from the state govt on non-compliance of its order for “re-investigation” by the CID-crime branch into alleged involvement of Lakra in the death case of his friend Anand Toppo. The High Court had on July 5, 2023 ordered for ‘re-investigation’ into the case.

Anand’s father Bandhna Toppo had filed a contempt petition alleging that CID-Crime Branch is yet to start the probe in the case even after eight months. Advocate Shivsankar Mohanty made submissions on behalf of the petitioner. State counsel B K Ragada on his part sought time to take instructions.

Allowing it, the single judge bench of Justice Sibo Sankar Mishra had fixed Friday for hearing on the contempt plea, expecting the state counsel to be ready with a reply by then.

It may be noted here that Anand (28) was found dead in Lakra’s flat in Bhubaneswar on February 28, 2022. After conducting probe, the Commissionerate Police had submitted in the lower court a report concluding it was a case of suicide. The injuries found on the neck of the deceased could be ante mortem and suicidal in nature. The victim had consumed alcohol and barbiturates before his death. Hence the doubt of forcible administration of alcohol and drugs is not possible, it said.

However, the high court on July 5, 2023, ordered re-investigation into the case by CID-Crime Branch after Anand’s father sought intervention and fresh probe by an independent agency alleging that his son was murdered and Lakra’s role in it could not be ruled out.

While ordering for re-investigation, a single judge bench of Justice Sashikanta Mishra observed, “Having regard to the fact that one of the accused persons is himself a senior police officer in the rank of deputy superintendent of police, it would be proper if the investigation is conducted by an officer of higher grade. This court therefore, directs the additional director general (Crime Branch) to entrust the investigation to a senior officer not below the rank of deputy inspector general of police who shall reinvestigate the matter from all angles and submit report to the concerned court accordingly.”