The Supreme Court of India has directed the Odisha government to respond within four weeks regarding the Mahanga double murder case involving Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Pratap Jena.
This directive follows a petition by Ranjit Baral, seeking justice for his father’s murder. The case involves the murder of BJP leader Kulamani Baral and his associate Dibyasingha Baral in 2021.
The Orissa High Court had previously given Pratap Jena a clean chit in the case.
The Supreme Court has taken up the matter after examining the details of the case, emphasising the need for a timely and comprehensive response from the Odisha administration. The case, which has garnered considerable attention, involves the shocking murder of Kulamani Baral and his associate, which had sent ripples through the local community and raised concerns about political tensions. The call for a judicial review underscores the quest for transparency and accountability in the investigation process.
Earlier, the Orissa High Court had given Pratap Jena a clean chit in the sensational double murder case. Jena had moved the High Court against the Salipur Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) verdict. The court had taken cognizance of offences against Jena as an accused in the case. Then, Jena moved the High Court challenging the lower court to take cognizance of the charge against him.
On January 2, 2021, BJP leader Kulamani Baral, 74, who was the block chairman of Mahanga, and his associate Dibyasingha Baral, 82, were brutally killed by unidentified miscreants near Jankoti village under Mahanga block in Cuttack, while they were returning home on a motorbike. Later, the prime accused in the case, Prafulla Biswal was found dead under mysterious circumstances.
The family of the deceased alleged that both Kulamani and Dibyasingha were murdered on the orders of Pratap Jena.
