Bhubaneswar: A day after the Supreme Court’s order in the Mahanga double murder case, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday said the verdict has clarified the legal position of former minister Pratap Jena.
Welcoming the order, BJD media coordinator Priyabrata Majhi in a statement on October 15 said the party has full faith in the judiciary and that allegations must be judged on evidence and court orders, not political narratives.
“Every individual is entitled to a fair legal process and an impartial hearing,” the BJD said, adding that the apex court’s order clarifies Jena’s alleged involvement in the case.The BJD said truth and justice must prevail and law should be allowed to take its own course without political interference.
The double murder took place on January 2, 2021, when Mahanga block former chairman Kulamani Baral and his associate Dibyasingha Baral were killed in Jankoti village under Nurtanga panchayat in Cuttack district.
Kulamani’s elder son Ramakanta Baral had named 13 persons, including Pratap Jena, in the case. After Ramakanta’s death, his younger brother Ranjit Baral continued the legal battle. The Orissa High Court had ruled in favour of Jena, which Ranjit challenged in the Supreme Court.
