Bhubaneswar: The possibility of Bidya Bharati’s arrest has increased in connection with the death of Paralakhemundi Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mahapatra after the Orissa High Court on Wednesday rejected two petitions filed by her.

Bidya Bharati, the wife of the deceased ACF, had approached the High Court seeking quashing of the case pending against her before a lower court. She had also sought protection from arrest while her petitions were being heard.

The High Court had earlier granted her interim protection from arrest until the conclusion of the hearing on the petitions.

With the dismissal of the two pleas, the interim protection has now ceased, removing the legal restraint on her possible arrest. Further action in the case will be taken in accordance with the court’s order and applicable law.

Meanwhile, former Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sangram Keshari Behera had earlier been remanded to judicial custody in connection with the ACF death case. The Odisha government subsequently suspended Behera from service.

The case dates back to July 12, 2021, when ACF Soumya Ranjan Mahapatra was found critically injured with severe burn injuries at his official residence in Paralakhemundi. He was initially admitted to a local hospital before being shifted to a private medical facility in Cuttack, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day.

On July 14, 2021, Soumya Ranjan’s family lodged a complaint alleging murder and named then DFO Sangram Keshari Behera, Soumya Ranjan’s wife Bidyabharati Panda and cook Manmath Kumbh as accused.

In view of the seriousness of the allegations, the Odisha government handed over the investigation to the Crime Branch on August 14, 2021.