The State Lokayukta has issued notices to the Principal Secretary, Home, the DG of Police and the Kendrapada SP to submit a reply within four weeks on the murder case of RTI activist Ranjan Kumar Das.
Acting on petitions filed by four RTI whistleblowers, including Pradip Pradhan, Zioauddin Ahamed, Manoj Kumar Panda and Sanjukta Panigrahi, the Lokayukta served the notice.
The petitioners have requested the Lokayukta for a high-level inquiry into repeated death threats given to RTI activist Das, who was ultimately murdered on the night of January 31.
The petitioners alleged that since Das was very active in making complaints against corrupt officials, he had been brutally murdered. The complainants further alleged that threats of dire consequences had also been given to persons like Srikant Pakal, Rajkishore Nayak and Simanchal Jena for highlighting corruption against highly-placed officials.
The Lokayukta taking the matter seriously said if the case was not dealt with on a priority basis, it would demoralise the people in lodging complaints against corrupt public servants.