HC Dismisses Panda, Behera Pleas in ACF Death Case

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Tuesday dismissed petitions filed by Bidyabharati Panda and former Paralakhemundi Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sangram Behera, who had challenged a directive issued by the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court in Paralakhemundi related to the death of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra.

The SDJM court had earlier summoned Panda, Behera, and cook Manmath Kumbh to appear in connection with the case. Panda, the wife of the deceased ACF, and Behera had approached the High Court seeking relief from the lower court’s order. However, with today’s dismissal, all three accused are now set to face trial for charges of murder (Section 302) and criminal conspiracy (Section 120B) under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The case traces back to July 2022, when ACF Mohapatra sustained critical burn injuries at his government quarters in Paralakhemundi. At the time of the incident, his wife was reportedly present. He was first taken to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur with 90% burn injuries, and later shifted to a private hospital in Cuttack, where he succumbed.

The incident triggered a major outcry after Mohapatra’s family alleged foul play and named Panda, Behera, and cook Manmath Kumbh in their complaint. The police subsequently registered a case based on these allegations, leading to the current legal proceedings.

With the High Court rejecting the petitions, the path is now clear for a full-fledged trial in the high-profile case.