Death Of Former Malkangiri Collector's PA: Odisha DGP Abhay Orders Crime Branch Probe

Bhubaneswar/Malkangiri: Odisha Police Crime Branch will probe the death case of former Malkangiri Collector Manish Agarwal's Personal Assistant (PA) Debnarayan Panda.

Odisha Police DG Abhay on Thursday ordered a Crime Branch investigation into the death case which continues to remain a mystery.

Earlier in the day, wife of the deceased Banaja Panda filed a complaint against six police personnel at the SDJM Court alleging delay in the probe and threat to withdraw the case. She also appealed to handover the case to CBI for an impartial probe.

Debnarayan went missing under mysterious circumstances on December 27, 2019, and the very next day his body was recovered from Satiguda dam. His motorcycle and helmet were found lying near the dam.

Suspecting it to be a case of suicide, the police had initially registered an unnatural death case. However, Panda's wife Banaja insisted that it was a planned murder case.

She then lodged an FIR against Agarwal and three others at the district Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court in connection with the case.

Soon, the former Collector Manish Agarwal and some of his colleagues were booked on charges of murdering Debanarayan Panda following directions by the SJDM Court.