Parala tragedy: SIT interrogates king’s daughter

Paralakhemundi: A day after the arrival of Kalyani Gajapati, the daughter of Parala king Gopinath Gajapati Narayan Deb here, the special investigation team (SIT) of the Crime Branch interrogated her about with the mysterious death of king’s manager Ananga Manjai Patra and her three siblings five days ago.

Highly placed sources said the six-member team quizzed the spinster daughter of the king at a lodge in Purunapatna area.

Kalyani, who has been staying in Chennai for a long time, arrived here late on Thursday evening. She was taken in a grand procession around the city by her supporters before she performed a puja at a local temple.
While the vast properties of the erstwhile Odisha king, estimated to be worth Rs 500 crores, were suspected to be cause behind their deaths, the interrogation is expected to yield some vital information relating to the reported proximity of the four with the king.

Ananga’s brother and the sole survivor of the the suicide pact Santosh Patra alias Tulu died at MKCG hospital on Monday after battling for life for two days. He was rescued in a critical condition from the bolted house in which the bodies of three of his siblings were found.

SIT members said if needed, they will interrogate the king’s younger brother Sarbagyana Jagannath Gajapati Deb to find out if property was the sole reason behind their extreme step. The royal scion is involved in a legal battle with his elder brother over property for a decade now.