Sambalpur District Judge (I/c) BK Patra on Monday rejected the bail plea of Sambalpur University VC Sanjib Mittal in a case concerning self immolation of Dinabandhu Mishra, a daily wage temporary employee, on April 20. Mittal is accused of harassing and abetting the suicide of Mishra. Earlier, the VC had moved the Orissa High Court for anticipatory bail. The High Court on May 3 gave three weeks’ interim protection to the VC and directed him to file the bail petition in the District Court of Sambalpur.
The people here including the employees of Sambalpur University have expressed hope that the police will this time arrest the VC. Since the incident took place, there have been allegations that the Sambalpur police are providing all supports to the VC who is solely responsible for death of the employee. “Although the incident happened on April 20 and there is a dying statement and letter of the deceased to the Registrar clarifying the culpability of the VC, but the police didn’t arrest him and gave him scope up to May 3 to get interim relief from the High Court,” alleged former MP Bhabani Shankar Hota.
Even during today’s virtual hearing, the police submitted a three page case diary at the last moment and the dying declaration of Mishra was not enclosed. Still the District Judge rejected the bail, reliable sources said. Meanwhile, a section of the people including a few employees of Sambalpur University and former Syndicate member Durga Padhi andothers are preparing to move the Orissa High Court against the police inaction in the case.
Rubbishing the allegations, Sambalpur SP B Gangadhar said, “Both evidence collection and investigation are going on. There is no eye witness in the case. Hence, it is becoming difficult for the investigation to proceed,” Gangadhar said.