The Bhubaneswar city police have initiated a high-level investigation into the alleged theft of two critical inquiry commission reports from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), following a complaint lodged by the state government on Wednesday. This development comes after Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi stated on Sunday that the government would probe the sensitive matter.
Details of the Missing Reports
According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by Home Department Joint Secretary Sarat Chandra Marandi at the Capital police station, the missing documents include the Justice A S Naidu-led judicial commission report on the 2008 killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati and others at the Jaleshpeta Ashram in Kandhamal district. Additionally, the Revenue Divisional Commission (RDC) inquiry report into the 2016 fire tragedy at SUM Hospital and Medical College is also missing.
Circumstances of Disappearance
The complaint states, "The circumstances surrounding the disappearance of these two reports create a reasonable suspicion that they may have been intentionally removed, retained, concealed, destroyed or otherwise unlawfully dealt with." This has prompted the police to register a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections 305 (theft), 316(2) (criminal breach of trust), 238(c) (causing disappearance of evidence), 241 (destruction of documents), and 61(2)(b) (criminal conspiracy).
Investigation Underway
A senior police officer confirmed, "Our investigation is underway." The Home Department revealed that the Naidu commission report was forwarded to the Chief Secretary's office on September 16, 2016, and subsequently sent to the CMO on September 19. Similarly, the RDC inquiry report was dispatched to the Chief Secretary's office on May 23, 2018, and later to the CMO the next day.
Recent Discovery of Missing Files
The FIR notes that the Home Department only recently became aware of the missing files. "Several other reports and files, sent to the CMO, were returned to the home department on June 4, 2024, the day assembly election results indicated a change of government. However, despite the return of other records, the two inquiry commission reports were not sent back," the complaint read.
Calling the disappearance a matter of "serious public concern," the Home Department has urged the police to identify those responsible and take stringent action against them. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are awaited.
