In a major jolt to former Begunia BJD MlA and Ollywood actor and director Prashant Nanda, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissioner of Police to submit a report on the death of a political activist at his Government quarters in Bhubaneswar.
The latest order of the commission came recently after the Bhubaneswar DCP informed the commission that the officer investigating into the case could not complete the inquiry due to his engagement in various law and order situations.
The commission had received a complaint on July 1, 2013 from Global Human Rights Communication executive director Dr Subhash Mohapatra in which it was alleged that one Birupakshya Ranasingh, a political activist was killed on June 25, 2013 in the Government quarters of Prashant Nanda.
“His body was sent to his village without following any legal procedure and immediately cremated at the behest of the MlA who is allegedly involved in the killing of the deceased. No FIR was registered and no investigation was carried out,” the petitioner had alleged at that time.
Vide its earlier proceedings, the commission had called for a report from the concerned authorities. Pursuant to the directions of the commission, the Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police had submitted his report on December 3 last year. The report stated that the inquiring officer could not complete the inquiry due to unavailability of some witnesses and his engagement in various law and order duties.
Hence, the DCP had sought a month time for filing of the inquiry report.
However, in its latest order the commission directed the Commissioner of Police to submit the requisite report in the matter within six weeks positively.
“The police continue to spare Nanda though he is involved in a cognizable offence,” alleged Mohapatra.