The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch (CB) on Wednesday quizzed some staffers of the Parala Palace and Maharaja Gopinath Gajapati Narayan Deb’s legal advisor in connection with the death of Anaga Manjari Patra, the king’s manager, and her siblings. The team also probed the alleged usurpation of palace property.
While SIT chief RB Panigrahi himself met the Maharaja’s legal advisor lK Adhikari in the town and held a discussion about the court litigations involving palace property, other members of the team visited the palace and interrogated an employee, Bijay Kumar Patra, who is appointed to ring the palace bell.
The team members inquired about the allegations of wrongful confinement of the Maharaja by his manager. It also visited the Karana Sahi house of Purnima Patra, a sister of deceased Anang Manjari, and quizzed her relatives along with her.
However, it has been three days since the bodies of Ananga Majari and her siblings were recovered from their house here, but the investigating agency is yet to ascertain whether it is a case of suicide or murder.
Meanwhile, admitting that there were some disputes with the Maharaja over the royal house properties, his younger brother Sarbagyana Jagannath Narayan Deb said the deceased manager never allowed anybody to meet the king at the palace.
“Medical negligence was meted out to the Maharaja. We have some disputes regarding properties, but it is a family issue and internal matter of the palace. But why they (Anang Manjari and her siblings) committed suicideIJ They never allowed anybody to meet the Maharaja,” said Sarbagyana Jagannath Narayan Deb, who stays in Chennai.
Meanwhile, the Maharaja’s daughter Kalyani Gajapati, who stays in Chennai, would come to Parlakhemundi on Thursday to offer prayer at the Jagannath temple and Manikeswari temple located in the palace for wellbeing of the king.
She is also scheduled to meet some locals and Maharaja Suraksha Samiti members. Sources said Kalyani would visit the palace after a gap of many years.