Cuttack, July 9: In a major development in the controversial death case of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra, the Orissa High Court on Wednesday rejected the bail pleas of three accused, paving the way for a murder trial in the lower court.

The accused include Soumya’s wife Bidyabharati Panda, former Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sangram Behera, and cook Manmath Kumbha. All three will now face trial under charges of murder and criminal conspiracy, as per the petition filed by the deceased’s father, Abhiram Mohapatra.

Soumya Ranjan sustained severe burn injuries at his official quarters in Paralakhemundi on the night of July 11, 2021. Despite being admitted to a private hospital in Cuttack, he succumbed to his injuries on July 13. His family alleged foul play, implicating the trio in a possible conspiracy behind his death.

The Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court in Paralakhemundi had earlier issued non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against the accused for failing to appear despite repeated summons. The High Court’s recent decision to dismiss their bail applications has intensified legal proceedings, with the lower court now set to begin trial.

This case has drawn widespread attention across Odisha, not only due to the tragic loss of a young forest officer but also because of the alleged involvement of his wife and a senior official.

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