Bhubaneswar/Berhampur: With the Commissionerate police all set to reopen the case relating to the death of two associates of former Congress MLA Ramesh Jena following a complaint lodged by the father of one of the deceased, trouble seems to be mounting for the former Sanakhemundi lawmaker.
Police commissioner YB Khurania told the media today that police is examining the death of Jena’s two former associates - Raju Behera and Gupteswar Padhi - whose blood soaked bodies were found in Rasulgarh area in Bhubaneswar in 2013.
“Though the police had said at the time that the duo was killed in a road accident, the father of Raju, in his complaint with the police, has alleged that his son and his friend have been murdered. On the basis of his complaint, police is thoroughly examining the case, which is most likely to be reopened,” Khurania said.
He further said that the Bhubaneswar DCP has received a letter from Berhampur SP wherein he has requested him to re-examine the case.
Talking exclusively to OTV, Sidharth Behera, the father of Raju Behera, claimed that the associates of Ramesh Jena have killed his son. He said his son and his friend Gupteswar were working for Ramesh Jena for 14-15 years till their death.
He said there is a mismatch in the report of the Bhubaneswar police and the report by the Berhampur police, which had come here for investigation.
Asked about the possible reason for the murder, Padhi said money matters could be the cause.
On the other hand, Berhampur police has decided to make a fresh appeal in the Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) to take Ramesh Jena and three others on seven-day remand for further interrogation in a land fraud case in the city.
Informing this to the media on Monday, Berhampur SP Ashish Singh said along with Jena, his father Arakhita Jena, associate Buna Sahu and R Murali Mohan, corporator of Berhampur Municipal Corporation, will be taken on fresh remand.
“Presently three special police teams are investigating into all land fraud cases,” he added.
Singh also said the police, which had taken Santosh Behera, one of the closest associates of Ramesh Jena, on a five-day remand yesterday, has started investigation as per the information provided by him during interrogation.
He also said that the police has launched a special drive to make Ganjam free of crime and criminals.
“During raid in several areas in the district yesterday, police has arrested 26 anti-socials from Gosaninuagan, Bada Bazar, Sadar, K Nuagan and Jarada police station limits. Besides, 19 anti-socials against whom arrest warrants had been issued have been arrested while 10 anti-socials have been arrested for illegal liquor trade. So far, 86 ant-socials have been arrested and 11 pistols have been seized from their possession,” Singh informed.