Odisha: Police Intensify Probe Into Missing CMO Inquiry Reports Case

Authorities in Bhubaneswar have ramped up their efforts to locate missing official documentation that disappeared from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). Police are conducting a thorough investigation, which recently included a secondary round of detailed inspections within the General Administration (GA) department at Lok Seva Bhawan, the administrative headquarters of Odisha.

Probe into Missing Inquiry Reports

The ongoing police investigation follows a formal First Information Report (FIR) lodged after it was discovered that two highly sensitive inquiry reports had gone missing. These documents were originally supposed to be returned from the CMO to the home department following established procedures on June 4, 2024. However, administrators later noted the absence of these critical files, prompting concerns that they were removed intentionally rather than misplaced through standard administrative errors.

The specific documents involved are of significant historical importance to the state. One report relates to the 2008 murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, which was investigated by the Justice A.S. Naidu Commission. The second missing file concerns the 2016 SUM Hospital fire tragedy, which was the subject of an inquiry led by the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC). The fire resulted in the tragic loss of over 20 lives and highlighted severe safety failures within the institution.

Investigators are now meticulously reviewing file movement logs, administrative records, and internal secretariat procedures to track the last known location of the paperwork. The police investigation is proceeding under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 305, 316(2), 238(c), 241, and 61(2)(b), underscoring the legal gravity of the situation.

Political Impact of the Missing Documents

The disappearance of these files has intensified political tensions within Odisha. On June 17, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari publicly stated his suspicion that the documents were likely stolen with specific motives. This allegation has led to further discourse regarding potential accountability, with suggestions that high-ranking former officials, including the former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik, might be questioned if the inquiry deems it necessary to establish the facts surrounding the lost records.

As the search continues inside the Lok Seva Bhawan, the public and political observers remain focused on whether law enforcement can successfully trace these vital inquiry reports and determine how such high-security administrative records were compromised. No official updates from the investigating agency have been released regarding the specific findings of the recent inspections at the general administration department.

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