Cuttack: Trouble mounted for international hockey player Birendra Lakra as the Orissa High Court has directed for a Crime Branch investigation into the death of his friend Anand Toppo. The deceased's family members have been accusing Birendra of murdering Anand at a house in Infocity area of Bhubaneswar.

Hearing a petition filed by Anand's father, the High Court issued directive for a probe into the case to be led by a DIG rank officer as the accused is an officer of DSP rank.

The High Court also directed that the investigator would submit the probe report in the lower court.

The deceased's father had moved the High Court alleging lack of impartial investigation by police in the death case.

Anand’s kin had alleged that Birendra Lakra and his friend Manjeet Tete were involved in killing him. He was found hanging inside the house on February 28, last year.

At that time, Anand had gotten married mere ten days ago. Worth mentioning, Birendra and Manjeet were childhood friends of Anand while the hockey player was adored by the deceased’s family.

However, the Twin City Commissionerate Police had given Birendra a clean chit in the death case.

Available evidence and medical reports have made it clear that the cause of death was suicidal hanging and there is no suspicion of any foul play, police had said.

The injuries found on the neck of the deceased could be ante-mortem and suicidal in nature. The deceased had consumed liquor and barbiturate before his death. The cause of the death was ante-mortem hanging and its complication, it added.