Berhampur: Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC) director Sangram Behera was on Monday remanded to judicial custody by district and sessions court, Paralakhemundi, in the 2021 death case of an assistant conservator of forests (ACF).Earlier following high court’s direction, Behera, who was the divisional forest officer (DFO) of Paralakhemundi at the time of the incident, surrendered before the subdivisional judicial magistrate (SDJM) court, seeking bail in the case. The SDJM, however, rejected his bail application. Following this, he approached the district and sessions court, where judge Jagadish Mohanty rejected his bail, according to Rajesh Kumar Mishra, special public prosecutor.The court observed some of the witnesses, who will be examined in the case, belong to forest department and worked under him when the accused was a DFO. “There is very chance of the accused influencing him if released on bail. Besides an experienced and educated man like him has deliberately flouted the law. If such a person is released on bail, an impression would be created in the minds of criminals that they would commit offence with impunity. In the fact the accused being a DFO was expected to have a greater sense of responsibility,” the court said.The case pertains to the mysterious death of ACF Soumy Ranjan Mohapatra on July 12, 2021. A 2018-batch officer of Odisha Forest Service, Mohapatra had sustained serious burn injuries at his home on July 11. His wife Bidya Bharati was also present in the house. He later succumbed to his injuries during treatment at a private hospital in Cuttack on July 12. His family members, however, suspected it to be a murder, in which the then DFO, Bidya and the home cook was involved.On July 13, 2021, the family members lodged a complaint against Behera, Bidya and cook Manmath Kumbha, accusing them of conspiring to kill Ranjan. Based on their complaint, a case was registered in Paralakhemundi police station.The govt, however, transferred the investigation to the crime branch on Aug 11, 2021. On Sept 19, 2022, the family members of Ranjan approached the SDJM, citing several lacunae in the investigation. When the accused failed to appear despite summons, the trial court issued non-bailable warrants against Behera. Seeking relief, Behera filed for anticipatory bail in high court in Oct 2025, , but his petition was rejected. He was directed to present himself before the trial court.
