CUTTACK: In a fresh twist to the murder of Hindol Block chairman Nabaghana Sahoo in May last year, the Orissa High Court on Thursday issued notice to Women and Child Development Minister Anjali Behera who has been alleged to be behind the killing by the petitioners. A Division Bench of Chief Justice V Gopalagowda and Justice BN Mohapatra has directed the minister to file her response in two weeks.The petitioners __ Prasant Kumar Mishra and several residents of Hindol __ have alleged involvement of political persons in power, including the minister, and appealed for CBI probe into the case.Earlier, the court had directed the Crime Branch to conduct investigation properly. The investigating agency on Thursday filed a status report on the progress of investigation. The court has also directed the additional Government advocate to produce documents, relating to the case, on the next date of hearing.According to case records, Sahoo was returning from morning walk when a Scorpio vehicle hit him from behind. The chairman died on the spot. On the complaint of Sahoo’s brother, police found prima facie material, constituting a case of murder, and registered the case accordingly.Since there was an allegation of involvement of certain political people in power, the Government transferred the investigation to Crime Branch. The petitioners have held that due to involvement of powerful and influential people, the Crime Branch may not be able to investigate the case properly, and therefore that should be handed over to CBI.Durmila Sahoo, mother of the slain chairman, has also filed another writ petition with similar prayer.
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