Crime News / ACF Soumya Ranjan Case: Orissa HC Refuses Interim Protection From Arrest to Bidyabharati Panda
·1 hour ago·3 min read
Key Points
The Orissa High Court declined to grant interim protection from arrest to Bidyabharati Panda, wife of late Assistant Conservator of Forests Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra, in connection with the case relating to his death in 2021; a vacation bench of Justice Aditya Kumar Mohapatra refused the protection and directed the investigating agency to produce the case diary.
Kataka, Oct 24: The Orissa High Court has declined to grant interim protection from arrest to Bidyabharati Panda, wife of late Assistant Conservator of Forests Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra, in connection with the case relating to his death in 2021.
Panda had sought interim relief while her anticipatory bail application was pending before the court. A vacation bench of Justice Aditya Kumar Mohapatra, hearing the matter during the Puja vacation on Friday, refused to grant the protection and directed the investigating agency to produce the case diary.
The anticipatory bail plea will be heard after the High Court reopens following the vacation. Regular sittings are scheduled to resume on Tuesday.
The latest order leaves Panda without interim protection from arrest. She has been directed to appear before the Paralakhemundi court by October 30.
Panda had sought interim relief while her anticipatory bail application was pending before the court. A vacation bench of Justice Aditya Kumar Mohapatra, hearing the matter during the Puja vacation on Friday, refused to grant the protection and directed the investigating agency to produce the case diary.
The anticipatory bail plea will be heard after the High Court reopens following the vacation. Regular sittings are scheduled to resume on Tuesday.
The latest order leaves Panda without interim protection from arrest. She has been directed to appear before the Paralakhemundi court by October 30.
📱 Get Argus News App
✨📰 60 Word News🎬 Argus Podcast📺 Live TV and Breaking News🔔 Free Notification Alerts
Download Free:
Supreme Court Had Left Door Open For Anticipatory Bail
The deadline for Panda’s appearance was extended from October 1 by the High Court on September 30, after the Supreme Court dismissed her special leave petition challenging the High Court’s earlier refusal to interfere with the magistrate’s order taking cognisance of the case.
However, the apex court had left her free to pursue anticipatory bail.
Mohapatra suffered burn injuries at his residence in Paralakhemundi, Gajapati district, on July 12, 2021, and died the following day.
The case was initially investigated by the Crime Branch under Sections 285 and 304-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Subsequently, the Paralakhemundi Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate took cognisance of offences under Sections 302 (murder) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC on a complaint filed by Mohapatra’s father.
Also Read: Officer Suspended, IIC Transferred in Jaleswar Crime Case
Two Other Accused In The Case
Apart from Panda, two other persons are accused in the case.
The deadline for Panda’s appearance was extended from October 1 by the High Court on September 30, after the Supreme Court dismissed her special leave petition challenging the High Court’s earlier refusal to interfere with the magistrate’s order taking cognisance of the case.
However, the apex court had left her free to pursue anticipatory bail.
Mohapatra suffered burn injuries at his residence in Paralakhemundi, Gajapati district, on July 12, 2021, and died the following day.
The case was initially investigated by the Crime Branch under Sections 285 and 304-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Subsequently, the Paralakhemundi Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate took cognisance of offences under Sections 302 (murder) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC on a complaint filed by Mohapatra’s father.
Also Read: Officer Suspended, IIC Transferred in Jaleswar Crime Case
Two Other Accused In The Case
Apart from Panda, two other persons are accused in the case.
Sangram Keshari Behera, the then Divisional Forest Officer of Paralakhemundi, has surrendered before the court, while the family cook, Manmath Kumbha, has been arrested.
Senior advocate Umesh Prasad Rath had earlier said Panda had a limited window to seek further relief and that all three accused could face custody, subject to orders of the competent courts.
“She is an accused person, and nothing in the High Court’s interim order is a finding on the merits of the case,” Rath said.
Senior advocate Umesh Prasad Rath had earlier said Panda had a limited window to seek further relief and that all three accused could face custody, subject to orders of the competent courts.
“She is an accused person, and nothing in the High Court’s interim order is a finding on the merits of the case,” Rath said.
Related Topics
Explore more stories