Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed the suspension of Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Sangram Keshari Behera, who is currently serving as Director (Commercial) in the Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC).
The action follows Behera’s remand in judicial custody in connection with the 2021 death case of Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra, the then Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) in the Paralakhemundi Forest Division.
Behera was previously posted as Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Gajapati, at the time of the incident and has been named as an accused in the case.
Official sources confirmed that the Chief Minister’s directive for suspension has been issued in light of the judicial custody order.
Further administrative proceedings are expected as per service rules applicable to IFS officers.
