Bidyabharati Case / Odisha CM Orders Suspension of IFS Officer Sangram Behera in ACF Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra Death Case
·2 hours ago·2 min read
Key Points
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi directed the suspension of IFS officer Sangram Keshari Behera, an accused in the 2021 death case of ACF Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra.
Bhubaneswar, Aug 2: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi directed the suspension of Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Sangram Keshari Behera, an accused in the Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra death case.
Behera, who is currently serving as Director (Commercial) of the Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC), was recently remanded to judicial custody after surrendering before a court in connection with the case.
CM Orders Suspension
The Chief Minister's directive comes days after Behera surrendered before the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Court in Paralakhemundi and was sent to judicial custody.
The state government is expected to issue the formal suspension order following the Chief Minister's direction.
Bail Pleas Rejected
On July 27, Behera, the former Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Gajapati, surrendered before the SDJM Court through his counsel.
His bail application was first rejected by the SDJM Court. He subsequently approached the District and Sessions Court, which also dismissed his plea, following which he was remanded to judicial custody.
Senior Forest Officer Held Key Posts
Before his current posting, Behera served as Principal of the Forest Ranger College in Anugola from January 2023 to April 2026.
He was appointed Director (Commercial) of the Odisha Forest Development Corporation in May 2026.
Also Read: Accused Sangram Behera Surrenders Before Trial Court in ACF Soumyaranjan Mahapatra Death Case
Case Dates Back To 2021
The case pertains to the death of Assistant Conservator of Forests Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra, who suffered severe burn injuries at his official residence in Paralakhemundi on July 12, 2021.
He was shifted to a private hospital in Kataka, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day.
Family Alleges Murder
On July 14, 2021, Soumya Ranjan's family lodged a complaint alleging that he had been murdered.
The complaint named then Gajapati DFO Sangram Keshari Behera, Soumya Ranjan's wife Bidyabharati, and cook Manmath Kumbha as accused.
Behera, who is currently serving as Director (Commercial) of the Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC), was recently remanded to judicial custody after surrendering before a court in connection with the case.
CM Orders Suspension
The Chief Minister's directive comes days after Behera surrendered before the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Court in Paralakhemundi and was sent to judicial custody.
The state government is expected to issue the formal suspension order following the Chief Minister's direction.
Bail Pleas Rejected
On July 27, Behera, the former Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Gajapati, surrendered before the SDJM Court through his counsel.
His bail application was first rejected by the SDJM Court. He subsequently approached the District and Sessions Court, which also dismissed his plea, following which he was remanded to judicial custody.
Senior Forest Officer Held Key Posts
Before his current posting, Behera served as Principal of the Forest Ranger College in Anugola from January 2023 to April 2026.
He was appointed Director (Commercial) of the Odisha Forest Development Corporation in May 2026.
Also Read: Accused Sangram Behera Surrenders Before Trial Court in ACF Soumyaranjan Mahapatra Death Case
Case Dates Back To 2021
The case pertains to the death of Assistant Conservator of Forests Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra, who suffered severe burn injuries at his official residence in Paralakhemundi on July 12, 2021.
He was shifted to a private hospital in Kataka, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day.
Family Alleges Murder
On July 14, 2021, Soumya Ranjan's family lodged a complaint alleging that he had been murdered.
The complaint named then Gajapati DFO Sangram Keshari Behera, Soumya Ranjan's wife Bidyabharati, and cook Manmath Kumbha as accused.
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