New Delhi: Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan along with a team of Adivasi Mahasangha and former Koraput MP Jayaram Pangi Saturday met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and demanded a CBI probe into the alleged murder of Bhagirathi Mandangi in 2010.
The Mahasangha said Bhagirathi was a member of Majhighariani Temple Trust, Rayagada. He had gone missing while he was on way to the temple December 15, 2010. However, his body was recovered from a dam in Andhra Pradesh two days later. Although the Odisha Crime Branch was investigating the matter, no one was arrested so far.
The Mahasangha suspected the involvement of Rajya Sabha MP N Bhaskar Rao and a trustee in the alleged murder of Bhagirathi. They further said Bhagirathi had objected to the irregularities and misappropriation of temple funds. The managing committee decided to schedule a meeting December 15, 2010. Bhagirathi was called by the trustee to the meeting. He had left for the meeting on a motorcycle which was later found abandoned at the temple.
Dharmendra Pradhan and other members urged the Home Minister to order CBI investigation to nab the culprits.
Later Jayaram Pangi told reporters the Crime Branch had taken up the case in 2010 but could not arrest anyone. “Some of the leaders of ruling party in Odisha are involved in the murder and that the state agency is unable to arrest anyone. So we met Rajnath Singh to order a CBI probe,” he said.