Trouble mounted for international hockey player Birendra Lakra as the Orissa High Court on Friday directed for a Crime Branch (CB) investigation into the death of his friend Anand Toppo. The deceased’s family members have been accusing Birendra of murdering Anand at a house in Infocity of Bhubaneswar.
Hearing a petition filed by Anand’s father, the High Court issued the directive for a probe to be led by a DIG-rank officer as the accused is an officer of DSP rank.
The court also directed that the investigator would submit the probe report in the lower court.
The deceased’s father had moved the High Court alleging lack of impartial investigation by police in the death case.
Anand’s kin have alleged that Birendra and his friend Manjeet Tete were involved in killing him. He was found hanging in the house on February 28 last year. At that time, Anand had got married only ten days ago. Birendra and Manjeet were childhood friends of Anand.
The Twin City Commissionerate police had given Birendra a clean chit in the death case. Police had said that available evidence and medical reports made it clear that the cause of death was suicidal hanging and there was no suspicion of any foul play.
The police further said the injuries found on the neck of Anand could be ante-mortem and suicidal in nature. The deceased had consumed liquor and barbiturate before his death. The cause of the death was antemortem hanging and its complications, the police added.