Odisha Suspends Senior Forest Officer Following Arrest in 2021 ACF Death Case
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered the suspension of IFS officer Sangram Keshari Behera after his surrender in a three-year-old death investigation. Behera faces allegations regarding the suspicious burning death of his subordinate, Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra.
Key takeaways
- IFS officer Sangram Keshari Behera was suspended on August 2, 2026, by order of the Odisha Chief Minister.
- Behera surrendered to a Paralakhemundi court on July 27 regarding the 2021 burn-related death of ACF Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra.
- The deceased officer's family alleged a murder conspiracy involving Behera, the victim's wife, and a cook.
- The suspension followed the High Court's rejection of Behera's anticipatory bail application and his subsequent remand to judicial custody.
Disciplinary Action Follows Legal Surrender
The Odisha government finalized the suspension of Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Sangram Keshari Behera on August 2, 2026. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi issued the order against Behera, who most recently served as Director (commercial) at the Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC). This administrative move follows the officer’s recent surrender to judicial authorities regarding the 2021 death of a junior colleague.
Details of the Paralakhemundi Incident
The case dates back to July 11, 2021, when Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra, a 2018-batch officer serving as Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) in Paralakhemundi, suffered critical burn injuries at his residence. While his wife was present during the event, Mohapatra died the following day at a private facility in Cuttack. The tragedy immediately sparked controversy, leading Mohapatra's family to file formal complaints on July 13, 2021, alleging a conspiracy between Behera, the deceased’s wife, and a domestic cook.
Investigation and Judicial Pressure
The legal path to Behera's suspension involved multiple investigative shifts and court interventions:
- Initial Inquiry: Local police first handled the case before transferring it to the Crime Branch.
- Legal Challenges: In September 2022, the family of the deceased challenged the investigation's integrity in court, highlighting specific procedural gaps.
- Warrants and Appeals: After Behera ignored initial court summonses, a trial court issued non-bailable warrants. The High Court subsequently denied his petition for anticipatory bail.
- Custody: Behera surrendered to the Paralakhemundi court on July 27, 2024, resulting in his current remand to judicial custody.
The suspension marks a significant development in a case that has remained under public scrutiny for five years, as the state seeks to address allegations of misconduct within the forest department ranks.
Source: The Hindu — National
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