Paralakhemundi: Bidyabharati Panda, wife of deceased Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra, surrendered before the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court in Paralakhemundi Monday, days after the Orissa High Court rejected her anticipatory bail plea.
The High Court rejected her application October 31. The Supreme Court had earlier dismissed her Special Leave Petition (SLP), while the High Court had also rejected two other petitions filed by her.
It can be mentioned here that Mohapatra suffered burn injuries at his residence in Paralakhemundi in Odisha’s Gajapati district July 12, 2021, and died the following day.
The Paralakhemundi Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate subsequently took cognisance of offences under Sections 302 (murder) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on a complaint filed by Mohapatra’s father.
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The case was initially investigated by the Crime Branch. The magistrate subsequently took cognisance of the graver charges of murder and criminal conspiracy on the basis of the complaint filed by Mohapatra’s father.
Two other persons are also accused in the case.
Sangram Keshari Behera, the then Divisional Forest Officer of Paralakhemundi, has surrendered before the court, while the family cook, Manmath Kumbha, has been arrested.
PNN & Agencies
