Bhubaneswar: A day after former Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sangram Keshari Behera was remanded to judicial custody in connection with the death of Paralakhemundi ACF Soumya Ranjan Mahapatra, demands for further arrests and a broader investigation have intensified.

Soumya Ranjan’s father, Abhiram Mahapatra, along with BJP leader Thakur Ranjit Das, on Tuesday called for the immediate arrest of the deceased officer’s wife, Bidyabharati Panda, and cook Manmath Kumbh.

They alleged both Bidyabharati and Manmath were involved in the incident and urged authorities to conduct a comprehensive probe to bring all those linked to the case under investigation.

The duo also demanded former Forest Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha be brought within the ambit of the probe, seeking accountability at all levels.

Abhiram Mahapatra further called for the dismissal of former DFO Sangram Keshari Behera from service, increasing pressure on the administration for stringent action in the high-profile case.

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 and later shifted to a private medical facility in Cuttack, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day.

On July 14, 2021, the deceased officer’s family lodged a complaint alleging murder, naming then DFO Sangram 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.