Bhubaneswar, July 23 — A day after issuing a notice to former top bureaucrat and Naveen Patnaik’s close aide V.K. Pandian, the Commissionerate Police on Thursday served a notice to another retired IAS officer, Upendra Nath Behera, directing him to appear before the investigating officer in connection with the alleged disappearance of two high‑profile inquiry reports from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) during the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) regime.
The notice has been served in connection with case number 460/26 registered at the Capital Police Station in Bhubaneswar, based on a complaint lodged by a senior official of the state Home Department regarding the missing files from the CMO.
The two inquiry reports allegedly untraceable include the Justice A.S. Naidu Commission report on the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four others at Jaleshpeta Ashram in Kandhamal district in 2008, and the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) inquiry report on the 2016 fire tragedy at IMS & SUM Hospital and Medical College in Bhubaneswar.
The notice issued by the investigating officer states that, based on information collected during the course of the investigation, it appears that Behera “may be acquainted with the facts and circumstances” related to the case.
He has been directed to appear before the undersigned at the Office of ACP Zone I, Bhubaneswar UPD, on 26 July 2026 at 11 a.m. for examination and to extend full cooperation in the investigation.
The notice further directed him to bring along any documents, records, electronic devices or other materials relevant to the investigation that might be in his possession or control, and to comply with the notice in accordance with law.
In addition, a fresh notice has been served on former IAS officer Rajesh Verma, directing him to appear before the police at the Office of ACP Zone I, Bhubaneswar UPD, by 30 July for examination. Verma had earlier been asked to appear before the police on 22 July but failed to comply with the notice.
Earlier, the Commissionerate Police had served notices on two former senior officials – retired IAS officer Rajesh Verma and former Odisha IT Secretary Manoj Kumar Mishra – in connection with the case. Mishra appeared before the investigating officer on 18 July and recorded his statement as part of the investigation.