ACF Soumyaranjan death case: DFO Sangram Behera gets relief from HC
The Orissa High Court has issued an interim order of 'no coercive step' against former Paralakhemundi Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sangram Behera in the ACF Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra death case until further hearing.
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Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has issued an interim order of 'no coercive step' against former Paralakhemundi Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sangram Behera in the ACF Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra death case until further hearing.
After hearing Behera's petition challenging a lower court's order, a bench led by Justice Sasikanta Mishra issued a notice to the state government and the deceased ACF's father, stating that no coercive action could be taken against him until the next hearing on July 27.
Behera filed the petition after the Paralakhemundi SDJM court in April ruled that the allegations of murder and criminal conspiracy in the case merited a trial and summoned him, the ACF's wife Bidya Bharati Panda, and cook Manmath Kumbha. The three were to stand trial on murder and criminal conspiracy charges under Sections 302 and 120 (B) of the IPC.
This followed a petition filed by the deceased ACF's father, Abhiram Mohapatra, alleging 'laxity in the probe' into his death.
Bidya Bharati had also filed a separate petition in the High Court challenging the lower court's decision.
On July 12, 2021, Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra was rescued from his official quarters in Paralakhemundi with 90% burn injuries and died the next day at a private hospital in Cuttack. The deceased's family members later claimed that his wife and DFO Behera were involved in the incident, adding a contentious twist to the tragic death of the young forest officer.
