Brahmapur: In a pivotal ruling regarding the death of Ashutosh Mrudangia, a constable from the Odisha Motor Vehicle Department (OMVD), the Orissa High Court has mandated that the State Crime Branch assume control of the investigation. The court’s decision stems from dissatisfaction with the investigation conducted by the Brahmapur police. This move follows a petition from Ashutosh’s sister, Nibedita Devi, who requested a thorough and unbiased inquiry into the events surrounding his death.
The High Court’s involvement is particularly significant due to the controversy that has enveloped the case since Ashutosh sustained severe burn injuries on June 5 at the Bijipur Police Colony in Brahmapur. Initially treated at MKCG Medical College and Hospital, he was later transferred to AIIMS in Bhubaneswar, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries, suffering from approximately 80 percent burns.
Allegations presented to the court claim that during his treatment, Ashutosh made two dying declarations, implicating his wife Sandhya and her brother, accusing them of dousing him in petrol and setting him on fire. One of these declarations was reportedly documented in front of an Executive Magistrate.
Nibedita Devi has contended that despite the serious claims and the dying declarations, the police failed to make any arrests or advance the investigation adequately. She further asserted that Ashutosh’s wife’s position as a police constable may have influenced the investigation’s trajectory.
It has been reported that police conducted polygraph tests on the alleged perpetrators, informing the court that no incriminating evidence was found and that the inquiry was nearing its conclusion. However, the High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the investigation’s conduct and instructed the Brahmapur Superintendent of Police to transfer all pertinent documents to the Crime Branch for an impartial review.
The death has previously sparked calls from Ashutosh’s family for an independent investigation, including a CBI inquiry. Nibedita has also alleged that the police were shielding his wife due to her affiliation with law enforcement.
With the Crime Branch now stepping in, the investigation is anticipated to re-examine the details of the incident on June 5, the dying declarations, medical and forensic evidence, the involvement of those named by Ashutosh, and the reasons for the delays in legal proceedings.
The High Court’s ruling has thus revitalized a case that has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the investigation into the constable’s death.
