Kendrapara Naib Sarpanch suicide: Family holds Junior Engineer responsible, files complaint

The suicide of Naib Sarpanch of Baghabuda Panchayat in Kendrapara district took another turn on Friday after the family filed a complaint at Rajkanika Police Station holding the Block Junior Engineer responsible for the death.

As per reports, the deceased Naib Sarpanch, Rajesh Behera ended his life by consuming poison after allegedly failing to get his bills passed at the Rajkanika block office despite approaching the Junior Engineer multiple times.

Following his death, his family lodged a complaint at Rajkanika Police Station accusing Junior Engineer Pradeep Jhankar of swindling Rajesh Behera’s money forcing him to end his life.

Rakesh Behera, brother of Rajesh said, “My brother was the former Naib Sarpanch of Baghabuda Panchayat. He used to do a lot of social work and undertook many developmental projects in our panchayat by borrowing money from others.”

“The Junior Engineer of Rajkanika block, Pradeep Jhankar never passed any of the bills sending my brother into a financial crisis. When I enquired, I came to know that Jhankar has actually embezzled all that money,” he added.

However, Jhankar refuted all the allegations against him. Speaking to OTV over the phone, he said, “I have been framed by his family. I never harassed him. In fact, he took a lot of money from me and never came to the office despite being called many times. He did not have a single bill pending with me.”

Asked about the allegation, Rajkanika BDO, Rabinarayan Acharya said, “I do not know anything about the allegations. I will take appropriate steps if the police question us about the matter.”