Crime / Odisha Crime Branch to Probe Missing Naidu Commission File Case

Bhubaneswar, Jul 27: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday referred the case of the missing Naidu Commission report file on the Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati murder incident to the Crime Branch for investigation.

The file, which reportedly disappeared from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) during the tenure of former CM Naveen Patnaik, has triggered political and administrative controversy. Initially, the Commissionerate Police was probing the matter, but the investigation has now been handed over to the Crime Branch following CM Majhi’s directive.

Officials said the probe will focus on how and under what circumstances the file went missing from the CMO. Notices have already been issued to four former senior administrators from Patnaik’s office — V.K. Pandian, Manoj Mishra, Rajesh Verma and Upendra Behera. While Mishra has responded, the other three are yet to appear and present their version.

The Naidu Commission was constituted to investigate the circumstances surrounding the 2008 killing of Swami Laxmanananda in Kandhamal, an incident that had triggered widespread communal violence. The disappearance of its report file has raised questions about accountability and record-keeping within the highest office of the state.
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Crime Branch officials said they will examine whether negligence, deliberate suppression, or foul play led to the disappearance. The investigation is expected to scrutinize both administrative lapses and possible political implications.

The development has added a fresh dimension to the long-standing controversy, with the government underlining its commitment to transparency and accountability. The Crime Branch is expected to submit its findings after a detailed inquiry.