Odisha Police Summon Former Officials Over Missing Inquiry Reports

The Odisha Police have summoned two former senior bureaucrats, retired IAS officer Rajesh Verma and former IRTS officer Manoj Mishra, as part of an investigation into the disappearance of two sensitive inquiry commission reports. These reports concern the 2008 killing of Vishva Hindu Parishad leader Laxmananda Saraswati in Kandhamal and the 2016 fire incident at SUM medical college. Both officials served in the Chief Minister's Office under the previous Biju Janata Dal government.

The investigation follows a complaint from the home department alleging that the reports, which were previously submitted to the state government, remain untraceable within the Chief Minister's Office. While other files were reportedly returned to the department following the 2024 Assembly election results, these two critical documents were notably absent. The FIR suggests the reports may have been intentionally concealed or destroyed, prompting the police to examine the former officials who were acquainted with the facts of the case during their tenure.

The disappearance of the Kandhamal report is particularly sensitive due to the communal violence that followed the 2008 tragedy, which severely impacted the political alliance between the BJD and BJP at the time. The former head of the Kandhamal commission, Justice (retd) A S Naidu, confirmed the report was submitted in 2016 and contained extensive findings on social tensions and tribal issues. The summoning of high-ranking former officials marks a significant development in the state's efforts to account for missing government records, with the individuals scheduled to appear for examination on July 22.