Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Rayagada, Jun 16:

The CBI, on the seventh day of its fifth phase investigation into the sensational murder of Itishree Pradhan, a lady teacher of Tikiri Upper Primary School in Odisha’s Rayagada district in October, 2013, interrogated two company employees and a former Zilla Parshad member on Monday.

Itishree Pradhan Itishree Pradhan

According to reports, the CBI officials interrogated Debadutta Panda, a former employee of Utkal Alumina staying behind Tikiri Upper Primary School and Putul Kumar Thakur, an employee of L & T Company. They also interrogated former Zilla Parishad member Binod Nayak for the second time.

Briefing newsmen after a two-hour interrogation, Thakur, who hails from Begusarai area of Bihar, said he told the CBI that he does not know Itishree and had no relations with her. He also said the CBI has so far interrogated him 10 times in this case.

The CBI officials also subjected Panda to a marathon interrogation for about eight and half hours. Panda's interrogation, his first, began at10.30 AM and continued till 7 PM.

Though Panda told the media that he had replied to each question put by the CBI officials, he did not reveal the details.

During interrogation, the CBI officials, among other questions, also asked the two company employees about the nature of their relationship with Itishree, why they were in contact with her on their mobile phones and why did they leave Tikiri after her death.

Besides, the Central investigating agency also grilled Binod Nayak, former Zilla Parishad member, for the second time in the presence of Debadutta Panda from 3 PM to 5 PM.

The interrogation was held at the CBI camp office inside the premises of the office of the district collector.

It may be mentioned that the CBI, which had begun its fifth phase probe into the case on June 9 this year, has so far interrogated 25 persons.

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