In another turn in the sensational Mahanga murder case, the First Class Judicial Magistrate (JMFC) court at Salipur on Thursday (Aug 26) directed the Inspector-In-Charge (IIC) of Mahanga Police Station to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations made against BJD MLA and Odisha Cabinet Minister Pratap
Jena in connection with the case. This came after the murder of BJP leader Kulamani Baral and his associate at Mahanga last year, which had led his son Ramakanta Baral to file a protest petition for investigation into the matter.
The protest petition by Ramakant Baral was filed against Pratap Jena who was named in the charge sheet along with the names of 12 accused persons for their alleged involvement in the case. Baral had sought for a thorough probe of the Minister which had led the court to order for the same.
In his petition Baral had alleged that the investigation carried out by the investigating officer (IO) was not perfunctory as he completely overlooked the allegations against Pratap Jena even when the politician's name was mentioned in the FIR and statement recorded under Section 161 of CrPC.
In the petition, Baral categorically stated that the IO has not examined any material witnesses and wrongly recorded the statement of witnesses in order to shield the Minister. Hence, his name does not find a place in the charge sheet as incriminating materials against him have not been collected by the IO.
Baral further had prayed in the petition that it is essential to examine the witness names of whom are furnished in the protest petition and to investigate impartially the allegations against Pratap Jena without any political pressure as he happens to be a standing MLA and Minister of the State Cabinet.