Kendrapara: A petition was filed in the Orissa High Court on Thursday seeking a probe by the CBI or a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the death of Right to Information (RTI) activist, Ranjan Das of Kendrapara.
The petition was filed by the father of the deceased, Laxmidhar Das and another RTI activist, Pratap Chandra Mohanty. Alleging that Mahakalpada MLA Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and Kendrapara SP are influencing the ongoing probe into the case, the petitioners urged the court to bring them under the purview of the investigation.
State Home department Secretary, Director General of Police, Kendrapara Collector, SP, CBI, Inspectors In-Charge of Patkura and Marsaghai police stations have been made respondents in the case.
"Das had exposed many corrupt activities involving the local MLA, ruling party, liquor mafia and in prawn farming. Therefore, we suspect that he was murdered. The case must be probed by the CBI," said petitioner, Pratap Mohanty.
RTI district coordinator, Das was found dead under mysterious circumstances near Beruhan village under Marshaghai Police limits on February 1.
Earlier, Congress had claimed that Das was murdered and demanded a Crime Branch probe into the matter. A nine-member fact-finding team of Odisha Congress had also visited the spot and met the family members of the deceased. The Congress representatives had expressed displeasure over claims by police that Das died in an ‘accident.’
(Edited By Bikram Jena)
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