The Odisha High Court on Friday stayed the NBW or non-bailable warrant issued by the Malkangiri SDJM against former Malkangiri District Magistrate and senior IAS officer Manish Agarwal in the suspicious death of his former personal assistant.
The High Court has also issued notice to the opponents in the case to file their reply. Justice Dr Sanjeeb Kumar Panigrahi passed this order after hearing the case filed by Manish. As a result, Agarwal has been given temporary relief.
The case reveals that the then personal assistant of Manish, who was the Malkangiri District Magistrate, Deba Ranjan Panda, went missing on December 27, 2019. The next day, his body was found near Satiguda Dam.
Initially, the police considered it a suicide and registered a case of unnatural death. Later, Deba’s wife alleged that her husband was murdered. Malkangiri SDJM ordered a murder case against Manish. Manish first approached the Odisha High Court to quash the case.
After the High Court dismissed his appeal, he approached the Supreme Court. He was also disappointed by the Supreme Court. On the other hand, earlier this month, Malkangiri SDJM issued an NBW against Manish. It approached the High Court against this NBW. The High Court heard the case and gave the above directions.
