Odisha Crime Branch Begins Probe Into ‘Murder’ Of BJD Leader’s Aide, Visits Spot

Puri: A four-member team of the Odisha Crime Branch on Thursday began into the mysterious death of Chitta Ranjan Palei, a close associate of BJD leader and deputy chairman of State Planning Board Sanjay Dasburma.

A native of Sanabenakudi village in Brahmagiri, Chitta’s body was recovered from Nuanai river on Monday and his family had demanded a CB probe a day later, claiming that he was murdered in a planned manner by his friend Jagannath Sarangi.

The CB team reached the crime spot in Brahmagiri, where the body was retrieved, this morning and interacted with locals to reconstruct the sequence of events. It also collected evidence from the spot, took photographs and questioned locals, besides noting down names and addresses of eyewitnesses.

Notably, the team led by DSP Sisir Kumar Mishra had met Puri SP Kanwar Vishal Singh to take over the case on Wednesday.

Jagannath, who also happens to be Das Burma’s close associate, had reportedly invited Palai for a feast on Saturday, after which he went missing. His family members lodged a missing complaint with police when he did not return home. Cops later found Jagannath with critical injuries near Gadamrugasira village within Sadar police limits. Bloodstains and Chitta’s belongings were also found at the spot. His body was found floating in Nuanai on Monday.

Meanwhile, the BJP has demanded the resignation of Dasburma and urged the CM to expel him from BJD.