Former Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sangram Keshari Behera was on Tuesday remanded to judicial custody after a local court rejected his bail plea in connection with the 2021 death of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mahapatra.Behera had surrendered before the SDJM Court in Paralakhemundi on Monday after remaining out of reach for a prolonged period to avoid arrest. Following his surrender, he moved a bail application, which was rejected by the court. He was subsequently sent to the Paralakhemundi sub-jail.The case pertains to the mysterious death of ACF Soumya Ranjan Mahapatra, who suffered severe burn injuries and died on July 13, 2021, under suspicious circumstances while posted in Paralakhemundi. The incident had triggered widespread public attention and demands for a thorough investigation.The case was initially investigated by the police before being handed over to the Crime Branch, which later filed a chargesheet against the accused.Earlier, Behera, along with Soumya Ranjan’s wife, Bidyabharati, and cook Manmath Kumbh, had approached the Orissa High Court seeking anticipatory bail to avoid arrest. However, the High Court rejected their pleas.Following the rejection of his anticipatory bail petition, Behera surrendered before the trial court. With his regular bail application also being dismissed, the former DFO has now been lodged in judicial custody as the trial in the high-profile case proceeds.For a year, he was avoiding the NBW (Non-Bailable Warrant), and since he is surrendering today, there must be a loophole somewhere, and fingers are pointing at him. Therefore, in this matter, he should be kept in jail, his bail should be rejected, and a specific direction should be given for a speedy trial,” said Rajesh Kumar Mishra, government counsel.“In December 2021, during the chariot festival (Ratha Yatra), he was murdered. I repeatedly made demands to the government in power at that time, but the police and the Crime Branch did nothing. I still have hope in God, the government, the court, and the law, that I will definitely get justice,” said Abhiram Mahapatra, father of Soumya Ranjan
ACF Soumya Ranjan death case: Former DFO Sangram Keshari Behera sent to judicial custody
