Paralakhemundi ACF death: Wife Bidya Bharati to be interrogated soon

Bhubaneswar: As part of the investigation into Paralakhemundi Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra death case, his wife Bidya Bharati Panda will be quizzed soon.

A top official of the Crime Branch today told that the deceased’s wife will be quizzed very soon. He further said that the investigating team has so far interrogated 14 persons in connection with the case at Paralakhemundi. Besides, their statements have been registered, documents have been scrutinized, call details record (CDR) has been analysed and preliminary inquiry report of Gajapati police have also been analysed by the probing team.

“In the next phase, the Crime Branch team will record the statements of complainant and his family members. Subsequently, Bidyabharati will be interrogated which will be assisted by two women personnel from Crime Against Women wing. The Crime Branch has also prepared an elaborate questionnaire that will be put before Bidyabharati,” Crime Branch ADG Sanjeeb Panda said.

Earlier this month, six persons including the cook Manmath Kambha were subjected to marathon rounds of interrogation at Paralakhemundi.

While the CB officials had been refusing to divulge any details on the progress of the case, the deceased’s family had written to Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) seeking justice.

The deceased’s family hailing from Begunia village under Khaira police limits in Soro had been alleging the involvement of Bidya Bharati and DFO Sangram Keshari Behera behind Soumya’s death. On July 12, Soumya was rescued from his official quarters in the district headquarters town of Gajapati with 90 per cent burn injuries. Initially, he was rushed to District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) and later referred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital. However, he was first taken to SCB Medical College and Hospital and later to a private hospital in Cuttack, where he succumbed after battling for life for few hours.