Sharmili Mallick

Startling revelations in the murder of the Kalahandi school teacher Mamita Meher continue to tumble out of the closet with the senior State Congress leader and MLA from Kantabanji Santosh Singh Saluja on Monday claiming that MoS (Home) Dibya Shankar Mishra was with Gobinda Sahu and Mamita in Raipur days before the lady teacher was killed.

Saluja claimed Mishra, Sahu, who is the prime accused in the murder, and deceased Mamita were present at the Minister’s Raipur residence from September 20 to 23.

Saluja said that Minister Mishra had tried to iron out differences between the Sunshine English Medium School managing committee president Sahu and his employee Mamita at his (Mishra’s) Kool Home apartment at plot number 203, Block E in the Chhattishgarh capital city. The Congress MLA further claimed that Sahu had deposited money in Mamita’s SBI account on October 7, a day before she was killed.

“Gobinda Sahu took Mamita to Raipur and they met the Minister in his flat in Kool Home apartment. The trio was present in the same house for two to three days . Their call records should be examined,” demanded Saluja.

Saluja further claimed, “Gobinda Sahu took Mamita to Raipur on September 20 and returned on September 23.  However, the differences between Sahu and Gobinda could not be settled following which the former called her over the phone on October 7 and deposited Rs 8,000 in her SBI account the same day. He also asked her to him meet the next day.”

Raising fears that Mamita might be having evidence about the sex racket at Sunshine English Medium School and the involvement of BJD Ministers in it, Saluja said, “Why did the Minister call them to his Raipur flat. Police have recovered Mamita’s pen drive and laptop. Police should provide the details of the data they have retrieved from the victim’s laptop hard disk. The daily CDR of the trio should be made public. This is a pre-planned murder,” added the MLA.

Meanwhile, BJD Spokesperson, Sulata Deo said, “If they (Saluja) have any proof regarding these allegations, he should submit it in the court of law. The court will take decision accordingly.”

On the other hand, prior to Saluja, senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra a few days back had claimed that Minister Dibya Shankar Mishra tried to resolve some contentious issues between Mamita and Sahu at his Raipur residence. But when the matter could not be sorted out, she was finally murdered. 

“Telephone call records of the Minister, Sahu and Mamita should be examined to establish the Minister’s role in the entire chain of events leading to the murder of the lady teacher. Police have examined some call records of Mishra and informed the Chief Minister about the findings in a ‘sealed cover’,” Mohapatra had stated earlier.

Similarly, Congress legislature party (CLP) leader and senior MLA Narasingha Mishra had claimed that police have sent an inquiry report, highlighting the alleged involvement of Mishra in the Mamita Meher murder case to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. However, the Chief Minister’s Office has suppressed the report, he alleged.

“Minister Mishra had invited Mamita and Sahu to his residence at Raipur. He called the meeting to resolve differences between them as Mamita was aware of Sahu's illegal activities at the school. However, she was murdered after the meeting failed,” alleged Narasingha.

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