In a new twist in the case of former ACF Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra’s mysterious death, a watchman posted earlier at the office of DFO Sangram Behera on Saturday claimed that he had once seen the DFO going to the ACF’s residence at midnight.The watchman Ganga Pradhan said he had seen Behera visiting Soumya’s home at midnight during the winter in 2020. Though he could not recall the exact date but as per his statement, it was during December.
“One night while on duty, I saw Behera whose residence is just near Soumya’s, go into the latter’s residence at midnight,” Pradhan claimed. Pradhan’s statement is significant in the backdrop of the questioning of the DFO by the Crime Branch over his alleged involvement in the case.
The DFO came under the lens following accusations made by the family members of the deceased ACF that the former had an affair with Bidyabharati Panda.Pradhan also claimed that the DFO had removed him from job unlawfully. “I suspect that I might have lost my job because I saw him (Behera) that night.”
Pradhan also alleged that Behera’s driver and the office gardener knew everything about the case. “The police should have questioned the duo but I do not know why they didn’t do so.,” Pradhan said.Notably, a Crime Branch team on Wednesday recorded the statement of Soumya's family members, who have leveled serious allegations against Bidybharati and accused her complicity in murder. Earlier, the Crime Branch had stated that the DFO and the deceased officer’s wife Bidyabharati Panda would undergo polygraph tests if required.