odisha news: Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Jan 25: In a significant setback for BJD leader Pratap Jena, the Supreme Court on Saturday directed the Odisha government to respond within four weeks to a petition concerning the Mahanga double murder case.
The petition was filed by Ranjit Baral, the son of Kulamani Baral, one of the victims, after the Orissa High Court in October 2024 cleared Jena’s name. The High Court had quashed the order of the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Salepur, which had earlier taken cognizance of charges against Jena in the case.
Ranjit Baral sought justice from the Supreme Court after the High Court’s decision, challenging the clean chit given to Jena, a former minister and BJD leader. The Supreme Court emphasized the need for a timely and comprehensive response from the Odisha administration, allowing the represented parties to file counter affidavits and submit witness statements recorded by the concerned sessions judge and district magistrate.
The double murder occurred on January 2, 2021, when Kulamani Baral, then the block chairman of Mahanga, and his associate Dibyasingha Baral were brutally murdered while returning home on a motorcycle. Initially, a murder case was filed by Kulamani’s son, Ramakant Baral, which was later renewed by Ranjit after Ramakant’s death.
