CUTTACK: In a significant development, the Orissa High Court on Thursday directed the prosecution to file a fresh chargesheet after conducting further investigation into the murder of Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati. The Fast Track Court at Kandhamal which is hearing the case has been restrained from passing any judgment without the leave of the High Court.
After hearing arguments on the writ petition filed by Swami’s disciple Brahmachari Madhab Chaitanya and the intervention petition filed by one Durga Prasad Kar of Phulbani, the single judge bench of Justice MM Das passed the directions for further investigation and submission of the outcome before the trial court. The petitioner and the intervener have alleged that the investigation of the case has not proceeded in proper direction.
Chaitanya, the informant and the eyewitness to the murder, alleged that the Test Identification Parade had not been done in the case. The Crime Branch has not investigated the resolution of the local Vetikula Church on the plans for attack on Swamiji, which is a serious lapse. The intervener has also made similar allegations regarding the investigation.
The Swamiji and four of his disciples were killed on the night of August 23, 2008, at his Jalaspeta Ashram. Nine persons have been arrested by Crime Branch in the case.