Bidyabharati Panda Surrenders Before Paralakhemundi Court in ACF Soumya Ranjan Death Case
Paralakhemundi: In a significant development in the high-profile death case of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mahapatra, his wife Bidyabharati Panda surrendered before the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Court in Paralakhemundi on Monday.
The surrender comes days after the Orissa High Court rejected her anticipatory bail plea in connection with the widely discussed 2021 case.
Bidyabharati’s appearance before the trial court marks another major turn in the case that has remained in public focus for several years.
Earlier, former Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sangram Keshari Behera had surrendered before the court, while cook Manmath Kumbh was arrested in connection with the case. Both have already faced legal proceedings related to the matter.
The case dates back to July 2021 when Soumya Ranjan Mahapatra sustained severe burn injuries at his official residence in Paralakhemundi, Gajapati district.
He later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.
Following his death, his father lodged a complaint alleging foul play and named Bidyabharati Panda, then DFO Sangram Keshari Behera, and cook Manmath Kumbh in the case.
Legal troubles for Bidyabharati intensified after the Orissa High Court rejected her anticipatory bail application.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had also dismissed her petition challenging the continuation of criminal proceedings, allowing the trial court proceedings to continue.
Five developments over the years.
While the Crime Branch investigation earlier treated the incident differently, the complainant’s family continued pursuing legal remedies, leading to judicial proceedings against the accused persons.
With Bidyabharati Panda now surrendering before the SDJM Court, attention has shifted to the next phase of court proceedings in one of Odisha’s most closely watched criminal cases.
