Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the investigation conducted by Brahmapur police into the murder of Odisha Motor Vehicle Department (OMVD) constable Ashutosh Mrudangia and ordered that the probe be transferred to the Crime Branch.
As per reports, the Court’s direction came on a petition filed by the deceased’s sister, who alleged that the main accused, Ashutosh’s wife Sandhya, has not been arrested solely because she is a police constable.
According to the petition, Ashutosh had recorded two dying declarations. He allegedly stated that his wife Sandhya and his brother-in-law had conspired and carried out the murder in a planned manner. The incident took place on June 5. Ashutosh was undergoing treatment in Bhubaneswar and succumbed to his injuries on June 15.
Taking note of the serious allegations of bias and the tardy pace of the investigation, the High Court directed the state government to hand over the case to the Crime Branch for a fair and independent probe.
