Soumyaranjan Mahapatra Death Case: Wife Bidyabharati Surrenders In Court, HC Refuses Interim Protection

Bhubaneswar: The five-year-old sensational Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumyaranjan Mahapatra death case has taken a fresh turn, with his wife, Bidyabharati Panda, surrendering before the SDJM Court in Paralakhemundi.

The development comes amid fresh legal proceedings in the case, with the Orissa High Court refusing to grant interim protection to Bidyabharati on her anticipatory bail plea.

The High Court has also directed the investigating agency to submit the case diary detailing the investigation. The next hearing is scheduled to take place in the first week after the court vacation.

The case dates back to July 12, 2021, when Soumyaranjan, who was posted in Gajapati district, sustained severe burn injuries under suspicious circumstances at his official residence in Forest Colony, Paralakhemundi. He succumbed to his injuries on July 13 while undergoing treatment.

His father, Abhiram Mahapatra, had alleged that his son’s death was a murder and accused his daughter-in-law Bidyabharati, the then Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and the cook of involvement in the incident.

The Crime Branch investigated the case and subsequently filed a chargesheet. The investigating agency had raised allegations of negligence against Bidyabharati and issued her a notice before concluding its investigation.

Dissatisfied with the investigation, Abhiram Mahapatra filed a protest petition before the SDJM Court in Paralakhemundi.

On April 12, 2023, the court took cognisance of offences under Sections 302 (murder) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC against Bidyabharati, the then DFO Sangram Keshari Behera and cook Manmath Kumbh.

Bidyabharati had earlier approached the Orissa High Court challenging the cognisance order but failed to obtain relief.

In another development, the High Court on October 23, 2025, rejected the anticipatory bail applications of the then DFO Sangram Keshari Behera and cook Manmath Kumbh.

After nearly five years, Bidyabharati’s surrender and the latest developments in her anticipatory bail proceedings have brought the high-profile case back into focus. The next hearing in the matter is now being closely watched.