ACF Soumyaranjan Death: NBW Against Wife, DFO & Cook

Bhubaneswar: In the ACF Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra death case, the court of Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) in Paralakhemundi issued Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) against the deceased’s wife Bidya Bharati Panda, former Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sangarm Behera and the latter’s cook Manmath Kumbha.

The court issued NBW against them as they were not appearing before the court despite repeated summons. The court has directed them to appear before it on July 7.

After admitting a petition filed by the deceased ACF’s father Abhiram Mohapatra, the Paralakhemundi SDJM court has initiated criminal conspiracy proceedings against the three accused.

On July 31, 2021, Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra succumbed to burn injuries while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Cuttack on July 13, 2021. He was found in critical condition with burn injuries at his residence on July 12, 2021 in Paralakhemundi.

On July 14, his family lodged a complaint against former Gajapati DFO Sangram Behera, the deceased’s wife Bidya Bharati Panda, and cook Manmath Kumbha alleging murder. The state government had ordered a Crime Branch inquiry into the case on August 14. The Crime Branch termed the incident as an ‘accidental death’.

Crime Branch gave clean chit to Sangram Behera and Manmath Kumbha, but booked Bidya Bharati under sections 304-A (causing death by negligence) and 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter) of IPC.