Bhubaneswar: The team of Paralakhemundi police probing the death of Assistant Conservator of Forest Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra today arrived at the office of the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and quizzed him on this case.
“The DFO’s log book, tour diary, and other documents were verified. There is no loophole in the investigation which is being excecuted with due process of the law. He has cooperated with the investigation and we have recorded his statement,” the investigating officer said.
“The DFO has said that he did not know Bidya Bharati Panda, and met her for the first time on the fateful day,” the IO added.
Paralakhemundi DFO, Sangram Keshari Behera has been named in the FIR along with Mohapatra’s wife Bidya Bharati Panda and a cook Manmath Kamba.
The ACF’s mysterious death has snowballed into a controversy with speculations ranging from extra-marital affair, to timber mafia, suicide, and/or accidental death.
“The DFO categorically denied knowing the deceased’s wife personally. All angles are being thoroughly probed. Each aspect under the purview of this case is being investigated,” the investigating officer said.
Police is seeking the assistance of a cyber forensic expert along with the Crime Branch team to examine call detail records (CDR) of Behera, Panda and Kamba.
The officer-in-charge of Gurandi police station Mamata Panda, the sister-in-law of Panda, will also be questioned, the IO added. The OIC was seen in uniform besides Bidya at the district headquarters hospital in Parlakhemundi but refused to comment.