Bhubaneswar, October 24: The Orissa High Court has declined to grant interim protection from arrest to Bidyabharati Panda, wife of late Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra, in connection with the case relating to her husband’s death. The development comes as Panda’s anticipatory bail application remains pending consideration before the court.

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Panda had approached the High Court seeking interim relief to protect her from arrest while her plea for anticipatory bail is being considered. However, the court refused to extend such interim protection at this stage, leaving her without the immediate relief she had sought.

The case pertains to the death of Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra, who sustained severe burn injuries at his residence in Paralakhemundi, the headquarters town of Odisha’s Gajapati district, on July 12, 2021. He was subsequently rushed for medical treatment but succumbed to his injuries the following day, on July 13.

The incident had drawn considerable public attention and sparked widespread discussion across Odisha. The circumstances surrounding the ACF’s death led to questions about the events preceding the incident and prompted legal proceedings in connection with the case.

Bidyabharati Panda’s plea before the High Court seeks anticipatory bail, a form of pre-arrest legal relief available under the law, subject to the court’s assessment of the circumstances and applicable legal requirements. Her request for interim protection was intended to provide temporary relief from arrest until the court could take up and decide her anticipatory bail application.

With the High Court declining to grant interim protection, the legal proceedings surrounding her anticipatory bail plea remain significant in the ongoing case. The further course of action will depend on subsequent proceedings and orders passed by the court.

The case continues to attract attention because of the circumstances surrounding the death of the young forest officer and the legal questions arising from the investigation.