Paralakhemundi ACF death case: Wife Bidyabharati, former DFO face legal setback; Orissa HC rejects pleas

In a significant turn in the much-debated death case of Paralakhemundi ACF Soumyaranjan Mohapatra in 2021 in Gajapati district, the Orissa High Court has dismissed petitions by his wife Bidyabharati and the erstwhile DFO Sangram Behera, sources said on Wednesday.

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The court ruled that a full-fledged murder trial must proceed against all accused.

According to sources, the High Court has reopened the controversial case surrounding the mysterious death of Paralakhemundi Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumyaranjan. The court dismissed the petitions filed by victim Soumya's wife Bidyabharati and then DFO Sangram Behera, clearing the way for murder charges to be tried in court.

Murder trial will proceed against all key accused — Bidyabharati, Sangram Behera, and cook Manmath Kumbh, the High Court ruled. This marks a major development in the long-pending case that had attracted widespread public and media attention.

ACF Soumyaranjan was found half-burnt under suspicious circumstances at his official residence in Paralakhemundi on July 12, 2021. He was in critical condition when allegedly rescued by his wife and was later shifted to Cuttack, where he succumbed to injuries.

His family had raised strong suspicions of foul play and had filed a police complaint alleging murder of the ACF. Paralakhemundi Police had subsequently registered a case against the three individuals, which has now received the green light to move forward in court following the High Court’s dismissal of the accused’s attempts to block legal proceedings.

This development comes as a major blow to the three accused persons and reignites public interest in a high-profile case that many had feared was going cold.

“The erstwhile ACF from Paralakhemundi died a suspicious death. He had sustained 90 per cent burn injuries. His father (Abhiram Mohapatra) had subsequently resorted to the court seeking justice. An FIR was lodged by the elderly man under Section 302 (for murder),” Rakesh Behera, the counsel of ACF’s father Abhiram, said.

“Based on whatever witnesses and evidence are there in it, the High Court ordered that the case cannot be quashed at the cognisance stage and be sent for trial,” the counsel added.