TRINATH MOHANTY, OP
Bhubaneswar: Even after two months since a file containing the report of the Justice A.S. Naidu Commission on the assassination of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati went missing from the Chief Minister’s Office, there appears to be little progress in the investigation.
The Capital police registered a case June 10, and the Crime Branch took over the investigation July 28.
However, questions are now being raised over the pace of the probe.
According to reports, the Crime Branch has not summoned or questioned anyone since taking over the case, let alone conducting further raids.
The investigation had earlier remained limited to those summoned by the Capital police.
After taking charge, the Crime Branch conducted a search at the residence of a former CMO peon.
There has been no visible action since then, leading to speculation about alleged pressure on the investigating agency.
The questions of where the file went missing, under what circumstances it disappeared and who was responsible are expected to become clear only after the investigation is completed.
The FIR registered June 10 concerned the disappearance of the report of the Justice A.S. Naidu Commission, which had inquired into the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.
It was also alleged that the RDC report on the Sum Hospital fire was missing from the CMO.
The Commissionerate Police initially investigated the matter. July 27, the chief minister handed over the probe into the disappearance of the Naidu Commission report to the Crime Branch.
The agency registered the case July 28 and began its investigation. During the probe, notices were issued to several former CMO officials for questioning.
Former IAS officer Manoj Mishra appeared before the police and recorded his statement, while some other officials did not appear.
Notice was also issued to V.K. Pandian. As he was abroad at the time, he informed the police by email that he would appear in August.
The DGP said the investigation was being conducted on the basis of evidence. However, the Crime Branch has come under criticism for its handling of the case.
Investigators are expected to question former officers and a peon about the missing file and make efforts to trace it.
The alleged lack of progress has raised concerns. Questions have also been raised over whether pressure from officials of the previous government, who are alleged to have links to the disappearance of the file, is affecting the investigation. These allegations have not been established yet.
The Crime Branch has faced criticism in the past over investigations into several cases, including the school textbook error case, the alleged murder of GRP constable Soumya Ranjan Swain, the SI recruitment examination scam, the alleged harassment of a schoolgirl in Kendujhar, and the death of OMVD constable Ashutosh Mrudungi. The Crime Branch STF is currently investigating the orangutan rescue case.
Twelve days after the orangutan rescue, investigators are yet to disclose any major breakthrough.
The continued investigation has raised questions over the pace of the probe.
DGP Binayatosh Mishra said the investigation was being conducted from all angles based on evidence and witness statements. “No one can be arrested until evidence is found,” he said.
Mishra said investigators were examining technical aspects and analysing the available information before taking further action, which was causing some delay.