Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by Bidya Bharati Panda, wife of deceased Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra, challenging the Orissa High Court’s decision in the case.
Bidya Bharati had approached the Supreme Court after the Orissa High Court refused to quash the criminal proceedings against her in connection with Soumya Ranjan’s death. She had also sought protection from arrest while her petitions were being heard, a plea that was also rejected by the High Court.
The case relates to the death of Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra, who was posted as ACF at Paralakhemundi in Gajapati district. In July 2021, he suffered severe burn injuries at his official residence and later died while undergoing treatment in Kataka.
Following his death, his family alleged that he had been murdered and named his wife Bidya Bharati, then DFO Sangram Keshari Behera and cook Manmath Kumbha as accused. The Odisha government subsequently handed over the investigation to the Crime Branch.
Cook arrested
Meanwhile, Paralakhemundi police has arrested Manmath from his native village in the early hours of Wednesday. A non-bailable warrant (NBW) was issued by the court of the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM), Paralakhemundi recently. According to police, acting on reliable information about Kumbha’s presence in the village, a team apprehended him. He was being produced before the SDJM court in Paralakhemundi for further legal action.