Orissa High Court reprimands government for delay in investigation of Toppo’s death
Cuttack: The death case of Anand Toppo (friend of international hockey player Birendra Lakra) is again in focus due to alleged non-compliance of the Orissa High Court’s July 5, 2023 ‘re-investigation’ order.
Anand’s father Bandhana Toppo had filed a contempt petition alleging that the CID-Crime Branch has not been able to start investigation in the case even after eight months. Advocate Shivshankar Mohanty presented arguments on behalf of the petitioner. State counsel BK Ragda sought time to take instructions from his side.
Allowing this, a single judge bench of Justice Sibo Shankar Mishra fixed Friday for hearing on the contempt plea, and expected the state counsel to be ready with the reply by then.
On February 28, 2022, Anand (28) was found dead in his Lakra flat in Bhubaneswar. After investigating the death, the Commissionerate Police had submitted a report to the trial court which concluded that it was a case of suicide. The injuries found on the neck of the deceased could be pre-mortem and suicidal in nature. The victim had consumed alcohol and barbiturates before his death. Therefore, suspicion of forced consumption of alcohol and drugs is unlikely, the report said.
But on July 5, 2023, the High Court ordered a re-investigation of the case by the CID-Crime Branch after Anand’s father sought intervention and a fresh investigation by an independent agency, alleging that his son was murdered and Lakra’s role in it could not be ruled out. ,
Ordering a re-investigation, a single judge bench of Justice Shashikant Mishra said, “Considering the fact that one of the accused persons is himself a senior police officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, it would be appropriate if the investigation is conducted in a higher category.” It is done by the officer of. Therefore, this Court directs the Additional Director General (Crime Branch) not to hand over the investigation to a senior officer below the level of Deputy Inspector General of Police, who will re-investigate the case from all angles and submit the report to the concerned court accordingly.
