Odisha: Ex-Malkangiri Collector, 3 Aides Summoned By Court In PA Death Case

Malkangiri: Senior IAS officer and former Collector of Malkangiri district in Odisha, Manish Agarwal has been summoned by a court in connection with the death of his personal assistant over three years ago.

According to sources, three other associates of the ex-Collector have also been summoned by the court of the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) in Malkangiri. Agarwal has been asked to appear in the court on January 24.

It may be noted that following the death of Debnarayan Panda, who was PA to the Collector in Malkangiri, the Crime Branch of Odisha Police conducted a probe and gave a clean chit to the senior officer in December 2022. The family of the deceased had brought murder allegations against the Collector.

Though the Crime Branch has given a clean chit to Agarwal, the court felt there is a need for further investigation and asked the witnesses and Panda’s wife Banaja to depose. It also summoned Agarwal.

Panda, who was personal assistant to Agrawal, went missing on December 27, 2019, and his body was later recovered from a dam in Malkangiri. His motorcycle and helmet were found lying near the dam the next day, sources said.

While police had initially registered a case of suicide and later an unnatural death case, Panda’s wife Banaja made allegation of murder against the then Collector.

The Crime Branch, which investigated the case, gave a clean chit to the then Malkangiri collector. The investigating agency made it clear in its report that Panda had died by suicide and the officer had no involvement in his death.

Agrawal is now posted as deputy secretary in the Planning and Convergence department.