Cuttack: A great relief for DFO Sangram Keshari Behera in Paralakhemundi ACF Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra death case as Orissa High Court passed an interim order of 'no coercive step' till further hearing.

Receiving an application filed by Behera challenging lower court's order in 2021 sensational death case, a bench of high court comprising Justice Sasikanta Mishra issued a notice to the state government and deceased ACF's father.

The court asked the state government that no coercive action can be taken against the petitioner till the next hearing slated for July 27.

It can be noted that the deceased ACF's father Abhiram Mohapatra had filed a petition in Paralakhemundi SDJM Court on 'laxity in probe' into Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra death alleging it as a murder case.

Based on evidence against ACF's wife Bidya Bharati Panda, then Paralakhemundi DFO Sangram Keshari Behera and cook Manmath Kumbh, the court had issued a summon order directing all the accused persons to appear before it on April 27 this year. Challenging this order, Bidya Bharati and Behera moved the High Court.

However, the High Court is yet to hear the plea filed by Bidya Bharati.

Worth mentioning that Paralakhemundi ACF Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra succumbed to burn injuries while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Cuttack on July 13, 2021. He was admitted to the hospital with 95% burn injuries.

According to reports, the ACF was found in critical condition with burn injuries at his residence on July 12, 2021 in Paralakhmundi. The next day, he was declared dead. On July 14, family lodged a complaint against Gajapati DFO, ACF’s wife and cook alleging murder. Considering gravity of the incident, the state government had handed over the probe to the Crime Branch on August 14.

On October 8, 2021, Crime Branch gave clean chit to DFO Sangram Keshari Behera and cook Manmath Kumbh, but booked his wife Bidya Bharati under sections 304-A (causing death by negligence) and 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter) of IPC.

The agency termed the incident as an ‘accidental death’ making it clear that Sangram Keshari Behera and Manmath Kumbh had no role in it. Further, the Crime Branch said that the agency during the probe found no evidence of relation between the DFO and Bidya Bharati.