ACF Soumya death case: Deceased's wife, ex-Paralakhemundi DFO move HC challenging lower court order

In a recent development in the death case of former Parlakhemundi Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra, deceased's wife Bidyabharati Panda and former Paralakhemundi Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sangram Behera have moved the Orissa High Court challenging the order of the lower court.

According to sources, both Bidyabharati and Behera have filed separate petitions in the High Court challenging Paralakhemundi SDJM court’s order asking the duo along with cook Manmath Kumbha to appear before the court.

Bidyabharati and Behera have made the Odisha government and Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra’s father Abhiram respondents to their petitions, sources informed.

It is worthwhile to mention here that the Paralakhemundi SDJM court, while hearing the petition filed by the deceased ACF’s father Abhiram Mohapatra in April, had directed the trio to appear before the court. Their trial will be held pertaining to murder and criminal conspiracy charges against them.

After analysing the petition of the applicant, recorded statements and other documents, the court felt that the allegations of murder and criminal conspiracy are worth trial. On this basis, the court directed the trio to appear before the court on April 27.

Notably, on July 11 night in 2022, ACF Soumya Ranjan had sustained serious burn injuries while his wife was at home. He was admitted to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur with 90 per cent burns. Later, he was shifted to a private hospital in Cuttack where he succumbed to the injuries during treatment on July 13. 

A day after the incident, on the basis of the family members' allegations, Paralakhemundi police had registered a case of murder against the ACF’s widow Panda, DFO Behera and cook Kumbha under IPC Sections 302 and 120 (b).