Gajapati DFO interrogated by the Crime Branch

Paralakhemundi: The Crime Branch began questioning DFO Sangram Keshari Behera on Saturday as part of its investigation into the death of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra.

At the police guesthouse inside the Paralakhemundi police station this morning, a four-member Crime Branch team led by DSP Gyana Ranjan Mishra began grilling the DFO.

Notably, Soumya's family had identified the DFO and the ACF's wife Bidyabharati Panda in the FIR, stating that they were responsible for his murder. They also charged the DFO with having an extramarital affair with Bidyabharati.

While the DFO had denied any involvement in the death of the ACF, a video footage has surfaced in which he can be seen entering the district headquarters hospital with the two physicians and tehsildar-cum-executive magistrate Achyutanand Jani (DHH). It's thought that the video was taken as Soumya's deathbed statement was being recorded at the DHH.

Soumya was rescued on the night of July 12 with over 90% burn injuries and taken to the DHH, where his dying statement was recorded. He was then sent to a private hospital in Cuttack, where he passed on the next day.

When queried about the video clip, the DSP refused to comment, stating that the inquiry is ongoing.

On Saturday, the Crime Branch interrogated Mamata Panda, the OIC of Gurandi Police Station, for more than three hours.

Despite the fact that the OIC did not disclose the facts of the interview to the public, the Crime Branch DSP stated that Paralakhemundi SDPO Ramakrushna Pati had directed her to the location.

He claimed that she went to the district headquarters hospital at 9 p.m. on July 12 to inquire about the ACF's treatment on humanitarian grounds.

The account of the Crime Branch DSP contradicts that of Tapan Kumar Patnaik, the former SP of Parakhemundi, who informed the media on July 21 that there was no departmental instruction for the OIC to come to district headquarters on July 12 night.

The Gurandi OIC stayed with Bidyabharati in Paralakhemundi town until the ambulance van carrying Soumya left for Cuttack.

He claimed that she went to the district headquarters hospital at 9 p.m. on July 12 to inquire about the ACF's treatment on humanitarian grounds.

The account of the Crime Branch DSP contradicts that of Tapan Kumar Patnaik, the former SP of Parakhemundi, who informed the media on July 21 that there was no departmental instruction for the OIC to come to district headquarters on July 12 night.

The Gurandi OIC stayed with Bidyabharati in Paralakhemundi town until the ambulance van carrying Soumya left for Cuttack.

The OIC had gone to Soumya's quarters and returned with some goods wrapped in a red cotton towel after keeping the ambulance van for more than 15 minutes in front of the Forest Office's main entrance.

The Crime Branch is most likely to transport Bidyabharati to Paralakhemundi for questioning after the DFO's interrogation.