Odisha BTech Graduate Death: Probe Directed At Proving She ‘Died By Suicide’, Allege Parents

Bhubaneswar: A day after postmortem report of VVSUT, Burla, alumna Chinmayee Sahoo revealed death due to drowning, her parents on Monday expressed apprehensions over the ongoing probe and whether justice will be delivered to their daughter.

“It seems like a one-sided probe and attempts are being made to protect the accused. We feel that the investigation is directed at proving that she died by suicide,” Chinmayee’s father Banamali Sahoo alleged, adding that he fear that they might be pressurised or the investigation might be influenced by some people.

The mother asserted that Chinmayee was happy on that day and would have never commit suicide. “She was not alone and we suspect that someone might have pushed her into the power channel. And if she attempted to jump, why no effort was made to save her?” she asked.

They also raised questions on how the victim’s phone was found with Pritiman Dey, one of her male friends detained by police in connection with the incident, if she had jumped from the bridge to commit suicide.

The parents said that they would like to know what exactly happened leading to her death. “Police should conduct a fair probe and bring the truth to the fore,” they said.

On Saturday, Sambalpur SP B. Gangadhar had said that the investigation is focused on ascertaining whether it was a suicidal drowning or murder. “We have collected CCTV footage from various locations to examine if there is any evidence that they had any problem.”

Pritiman Dey and Manas Tudu were also taken to State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL), Bhubaneswar, for the lie detection test. The report is expected in next few days.

However, no evidence substantiating the allegation of murder by her family has been found so far.

Earlier on Friday, a police team searched her rented room at BJB Nagar area in Bhubaneswar and recovered her laptop, bag besides some other documents from there. A scientific team also visited the spot of the incident and some other friends of the deceased were also questioned as part of the investigation.

Referring to the incident, Leader of Opposition (LoP), Jayanaryan Mishra had said that the death of the girl in Burla has raised several doubts and police should try to clear those. “If the investigation into the death is not satisfactory, I will raise the issue in the Assembly.”

Chinmayee had completed her BTech in Information Technology from VSSUT recently and was in Burla on February 28 to receive her degree during the convocation. She was supposed to return in the evening. At 10pm, it was found that she allegedly jumped into the power channel. The body was retrieved the following morning.