Odisha CM Orders Suspension of IFS Officer Amid ACF Death Case
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has ordered the suspension of Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Sangram Keshari Behera, currently serving as Director (Commercial) at the Odisha Forest Development Corporation.
The decision comes after Behera was placed in judicial custody in connection with the controversial 2021 death of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra in Paralakhemundi.
At the time of the incident, Behera was posted as Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) in Gajapati district and has since been named as an accused in the case.
The suspension order underscores the state government’s stance on accountability within the forest department.
Administrative proceedings under service rules for IFS officers are expected to follow.
The case has drawn widespread attention in Odisha, with demands for justice and transparency in the handling of senior officials linked to the incident.
