In a significant development in the 2021 death case of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumyaranjan Mohapatra, the Odisha High Court has rejected the anticipatory bail applications of the then Paralakhemundi Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Sanjaya Keshari Behera, and the deceased ACF's cook, Manmath Kundu.
This decision paves the way for their potential arrest, as both face serious charges of murder and criminal conspiracy.
The DFO and the cook had approached the High Court seeking protection from arrest after a lower court directed a trial against them. Their rejection of anticipatory bail marks a major setback in their legal battle.
Soumyaranjan Mohapatra’s wife, Vidyabharti, who is also an accused in the case, remains under trial and could face similar legal troubles.
All three individuals—Sanjaya Keshari Behera, Manmath Kundu, and Vidyabharti—have been implicated under IPC Section 302 (Murder) and Section 120(B) (Criminal Conspiracy).
The legal complexity of the case began on July 11, 2021, when ACF Soumyaranjan was rescued from his official residence in a partially burnt state, succumbing to his injuries later during treatment.
Initially, the Crime Branch, which investigated the case, gave a clean chit to Vidyabharti, DFO Sanjaya Keshari, and Manmath Kundu.
Challenging the clean chit, Soumyaranjan's family filed a petition in the Paralakhemundi SDJM Court. After hearing the matter, the SDJM court took cognizance and made the three individuals accused parties, ordering a trial on charges of murder and criminal conspiracy.