Paralakhemundi ACF death mystery: Accused cook among 5 grilled by CB

Bhubaneswar: After Crime Branch of Odisha Police was handed over the death case of Paralakhemundi ACF Saumya Ranjan Mohapatra, a three-member team began investigation into death mystery.

The team headed by Crime Branch DSP Gyana Ranjan Mishra today interrogated as many as five persons including accused cook in connection with the alleged murder case.

The investigators grilled the cook, 2 ACFs, 2 forest guards at a special cell of Paralakhemundi Police Station in the morning to ascertain as to how the fire mishap took place at the official residence of deceased ACF on July 12 night.

The Crime Branch may question Saumya Ranjan’s wife Bidyabharti Panda, the key accused in the case.

Also Read: Odisha Crime Branch takes over probe into ACF death case

A month after ACF Saumya Ranjan Mohapatra succumbed to severe burn injuries following a fire mishap at his official residence in Paralakhemundi, mystery still shrouds the death of young forest officer with no scoop.

During the probe by Paralakhemundi Police earlier, a clean chit has been given to Gajapati DFO Sangram Keshari Behera stating that he had no link in the case.

The DFO and deceased ACF’s wife Bidyabharti were under the scanner of police after the latter’s in-laws leveled extramarital affairs allegations.

The OFS Officer Saumya Ranjan Mohapatra died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital on July 13. He was shifted to Cuttack from Paralakhemundi with burn severe injuries reportedly caused by a fire incident at his residence on July 12.