Odisha ACF death: Paralakhemundi DFO, Cook undergo lie detector test

Bhubaneswar: It seems the Crime Branch of Odisha Police has intensified its probe into the Paralakhemundi Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra’s death case after a gap of few days. As per reports, the State probing agency conducted lie detection test of Paralakhemundi Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sangram Keshari Behera and Cook Manmath Kumbha against whom the ACF’s family members have filed a complaint in connection with the death case.

Sources at the Crime Branch said the Paralakhemundi DFO and the Cook underwent lie detection test at the Forensic Science Lab (SFSL) at Rasulgarh in Bhubaneswar.

Though details of the lie detection test yet to be disclosed, sources said as many as 100 questions were asked to Behera during three-hour lie detection test.

Earlier, the Paralakhemundi police probed the ACF death case for 34 days after family members of the ACF lodged a complaint accusing the wife of the deceased Bidya Bharati, Paralakhemundi DFO Sangram Keshari Behera and Cook Manmath Kundu of murdering Mohapatra. When the police failed to reach any conclusion through its probe into the death case, the Crime Branch took over the investigation following a directive issued by Odisha DGP Abhay.

During its investigation for a few days, the then Gajapati SP Tapan Patnaik had cleaned chit to the DFO in the case.

Also read: Paralakhemundi ACF Death: Accused DFO Used To Visit Saumya’s Residence Late Night!

But when the Crime Branch took over the probe, the DFO and 13 others were questioned during the preliminary investigation.

Sources said as there has been mismatch in the statements of the DFO and the Cook recorded by the police and the Crime Branch during questioning, the duo underwent the lie detection test.

The Paralakhemundi ACF was found in critical condition with burn injuries at his official residence on July 12 and died the next day at a private hospital in Cuttack.