Cuttack, Dec 8: The Additional District Cum Sessions Judge (ADJ) court, Salepur on Wednesday rejected the revision petition filed by police challenging the order of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) for a fresh investigation into the Mahanga double murder case.

Prabin Kanungo, the petitioner’s advocate, said Mahanga police had filed the petition in the ADJ court on the basis of a letter issued by the Cuttack SP and the affidavit of Mahanga IIC.

Notably, an FIR was filed against a group of people which included State Law Minister Pratap Jena for allegedly hacking former Mahanga block Chairman and BJP leader Kulamani Baral along with his associate Dibyasingha Baral to death on January 2, 2021.

However, Mahanga police had filed a charge sheet against 14 accused and dropped the name of Minister Pratap Jena.

Later, the JMFC ordered Mahanga police for fresh investigation with the Minister’s name on the chargesheet.

The court also directed the Mahanga Police to submit call detail records (CDRs) of three persons comprising the Minister’s assistant Bapi Biswal, Block Chairman Sharat Naik and the late Prafulla Biswal for the period between December 2020 and February 2021.