Kataka: The Orissa High Court has refused to grant interim protection from arrest to Bidya Bharati Panda, wife of deceased Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra, while hearing her anticipatory bail plea.

The High Court has also directed the investigating agency to submit the case diary and scheduled the next hearing for the first week after the court vacation.

Bidya Bharati had approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail in the case. She had earlier challenged the criminal proceedings against her in connection with her husband’s death.

The latest development comes after the Supreme Court dismissed her petition challenging the Orissa High Court’s decision in the matter. The High Court had earlier refused to quash the criminal proceedings against her and declined to grant protection from arrest.

ACF Soumya Ranjan death case

The case dates back to July 11, 2021, when Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra, who was posted as ACF at Paralakhemundi in Odisha’s Gajapati district, suffered nearly 80 per cent burn injuries under mysterious circumstances at his official residence.

He was shifted to a hospital in Cuttack for treatment but later succumbed to his injuries.

On July 14, 2021, Soumya Ranjan’s family lodged a complaint alleging that he had been murdered. The complaint named his wife, Bidya Bharati Panda, the then Gajapati Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sangram Behera and cook Manmath Kumbha as accused.

Considering the sensitivity of the case, the Odisha government handed over the investigation to the Crime Branch in August 2021.