Bidyabharati Panda surrendered before the SDJM court in Paralakhemundi on Monday in connection with the 2021 death of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mahapatra. She surrendered after the Orissa High Court rejected her anticipatory bail plea on October 31.The case dates back to the night of July 12, 2021, when Soumya suffered severe burn injuries at his official residence in Paralakhemundi. He died the next day while undergoing treatment.Other Accused In The Case.Following Soumya’s death, his father lodged a complaint against his wife Bidyabharati and two others. They were the then Paralakhemundi Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sangram Keshari Behera and cook Manmath Kumbh.Behera surrendered before the SDJM court on July 27, 2021, and was later sent to jail. Manmath Kumbh was arrested in September this year following the complaint.High Court Rejects Anticipatory Bail.Bidyabharati had approached the Orissa High Court seeking anticipatory bail. The court rejected her application on October 31. Earlier, the Supreme Court had dismissed her Special Leave Petition (SLP). The High Court had also rejected two other petitions filed by her.With the rejection of her anticipatory bail plea, Bidyabharati surrendered before the court. Her surrender comes more than five years after Soumya Ranjan died of burn injuries at his official residence.
