Orissa HC orders thorough investigation into Laxmananda murder case

The crime branch of police in Orissa has been directed to conduct a thorough investigation into the murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati.

The Orissa High Court on Thursday ordered the police to gather new evidences and submit a fresh chargesheet in the trial court.

Justice MM Das gave the direction while hearing a petition seeking inquiry into the murder case by an independent agency.

Two petitions - one by Saraswati's disciple Brahmachari Madhav Chaitanya and VHP leader Durga Prasanna Kar - have been filed seeking a fresh inquiry.

The petitioners alleged that the police did not take into account the resolution passed by Betticola church in G Udaygiri block of Kandhamal three days before the murder. They alleged that the resolution had talked of eliminating Saraswati.

In addition, the petitioners also claimed that two days after Saraswati was killed two persons were apprehended by locals while washing blood-stained clothes in a pond in Nuagaon area.

Police freed them claiming they were not involved in the case, they said.

Swami Laxmananda and four of his aides were murdered in Jalaspeta ashram on August 23, 2008.

Although Maoists claimed responsibility for the dastardly act, the Sangh Parivar accused Christians and indulged in large-scale violence on the community, displacing thousands of Christians.

Following investigation, the crime branch of Orissa police earlier maintained that top Maoists were involved in the killing of Saraswati.

Reacting to Thursday's HC order, additional DG (crime branch) Abhay clarified to the media that the court had not ordered "reinvestigation", but has given the go-ahead for further investigation into the sensational case.