[Watch] Female Friend Of Odisha Hockey Star Birendra Lakra Appears Before Police In Anand Toppo Death Case

Bhubaneswar: Olympic medallist hockey player Birendra Lakra’s female friend Manjeet Tete appeared at Infocity police station in Odisha capital on Wednesday for questioning in connection with the death of his childhood friend Anand Toppo.

She was reportedly the girlfriend of Anand, who was found dead inside his flat in Bhubaneswar in February this year.

His family suspected Lakra’s involvement in his alleged death and the hockey player was summoned by Commissionerate Police on Monday for questioning. A total of 25 persons, including Anand’s family members, have also been issued notices, sources said.

The case was embroiled in a controversy with Anand’s father Bandhan Toppo, accusing the police of shielding Lakra since he is serving as a DSP. He told a presser that he was struggling to file an FIR even seven months after the incident.

He then moved the court seeking a direction for registration of the complaint and a Crime Branch probe into his son’s death.

Following this, an FIR was registered against Lakra at Infocity police station on November 24.

In this connection, the Orissa High Court had last week directed the Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar, not to assign any field posting to Infocity police station IIC for one year for refusing to register the case.

The officer also has to undergo sensitisation training at the Biju Pattanaik Police Academy, Bhubaneswar, for one month.

Also Read: HC Reprimands Bhubaneswar Police For Delay In Registering FIR Against Birendra Lakra In ‘Murder’ Case

The DCP has been asked to personally monitor the investigation while keeping all influences at bay and submit the final report in three months.

THE COMPLAINT

Toppo alleged that Birendra Lakra and his female friend Manjeet Tete killed Anand and later termed it suicide. He also raised concerns that the investigation is likely to be influenced by the international player.

It is worth mentioning that Anand was married only ten days before his death.