Odisha govt suspends IFS officer over 'involvement' in forest official death case
The Odisha government has suspended an Indian Forest Service officer, Sangram Keshari Behera, for his alleged involvement in the 2021 death of a forest official. The suspension follows a long-standing legal case and the issuance of non-bailable warrants against the officer.
Why it matters
It reflects on administrative accountability and the legal processes surrounding high-profile cases involving government officials.
The Odisha government on Sunday (August 2, 2026) suspended an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer over his alleged involvement in the mysterious death of a forest officer in Gajapati district in 2021, an official statement said.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered the suspension of Sangram Keshari Behera, who is currently posted as Director (commercial) in the Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC), it said.
Mr. Behera, who was the divisional forest officer (DFO) of Paralakhemundi at the time of the incident, was an accused in the death of Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra, former Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), Paralakhemundi.
Mohapatra, a 2018-batch officer of Odisha Forest Service, sustained serious burn injuries at his home on July 11, 2021. His wife was also present in the house during the incident.
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