Odisha: HC Breather For Ex-Paralakhemundi DFO In ACF Soumya Death Case

Cuttack: In a relief for former Paralakhemundi Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sangram Behera, the Orissa High Court has passed an interim order of ‘no coercive step’ against him in ACF Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra death case till further hearing.

Hearing Behera’s petition challenging a lower court’s order, a bench comprising Justice Sasikanta Mishra issued a notice to the state government and deceased ACF’s father, stating that no coercive action can be taken against him till the next hearing slated for July 27.

Behera had moved High Court after Paralakhemundi SDJM court in April observed that the allegations of murder and criminal conspiracy in the case are worth trial and asked him along with the ACF’s wife Bidya Bharati Panda and cook Manmath Kumbha to appear before it. The trial was to be conducted against the three pertaining to murder and criminal conspiracy under Section 302 and 120 (B) of the IPC.

This followed a petition filed by the deceased ACF’s father, Abhiram Mohapatra, on ‘laxity in probe’ into his death while alleging that he was murdered

Bidya Bharati had also filed a separate petition against the lower court’s order in the High Court.

It may be recalled here that Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra was rescued from his official quarters in Paralakhemundi with 90 per cent burn injuries on July 12, 2021, and succumbed the next day at a private hospital in Cuttack. The deceased’s family members had later alleged that his spouse and DFO Behera could be behind the incident, giving a controversial twist to the tragic death of the young forest officer.