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Bhubaneswar: Former Odisha DGP and senior BJP leader Prakash Mishra on Monday raised serious doubts over the jurisdiction of the Arun Bothra-led Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the sensational Pari murder case at Nayagarh.
“It’s a hogwash,” he said
The SIT has been formed by the State Government, led by senior IPS officer Arun Bothra to investigate the kidnapping and the subsequent murder of five-year-old girl ‘Pari’ in Nayagarh district in July this year.
In an exclusive interview to OTV, Mishra said as per the provisions under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), the criminal investigation can only be carried out by a police station. “Even when the Crime Branch or CBI conducts an investigation, they function as a police station,” Mishra said.
“There is no place for a SIT under CrPC. In the present case, the SIT has been formed by pulling officers from different departments. The chief of SIT, Arun Bothra is the currently the MD of OSRTC and he is not working in Odisha Police. He doesn’t even have the powers of police. How will he investigate? ” questioned Mishra.
'Pari' murder case: Former #Odisha DGP and BJP leader Prakash Mishra questions SIT probe, says Arun Bothra is MD of OSRTC and how can he investigate the brutal murder without police power. The case should be handed over to CBI#JusticeForPari #PariMurderCase
— OTV (@otvnews) December 7, 2020
Raising doubts over the SIT probe, Mishra said that the investigation into the Pari murder case ‘is not on the right track’.
“We have serious reservations about the investigation into the case the SIT. It appears to be a hogwash. That is because the findings of the SIT will not be admissible in a court. Therefore, we are demanding a Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI) probe into the case,” said Mishra.
Making serious allegations of political interference in the functioning of the police department in the state, the former top cop said, “It seems the hands of police have been tied. There are massive irregularities in the posting of officers due to political interferences. It is for this reason police officers are not able to discharge their duties properly in the State which is certainly concerning,” he added.
On November 29, the Odisha government had formed a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Inspector General (IG) of Police Arun Bothra to probe the alleged murder of the five-year old girl of Jadupur village in Nayagarh district.
The State government had also proposed that the probe by the SIT into the matter would be monitored by the Orissa High Court.
It is pertinent to mention here that Pari had reportedly gone missing while playing near her house at Jadupur village in Nayagarh district in July this year. Almost 10 days later, Pari’s skeletal remains were recovered from the backyard of her house.
The matter sparked massive public outcry after Pari’s parents attempted suicide in front of Odisha Assembly last month. The couple had accused Minister Arun Sahoo of shielding the prime suspect Babuli Nayak.
Following the incident, the Opposition parties had tried to corner the State government and staged protests demanding immediate expulsion of Minister Arun Sahoo.
