Odisha Crime Branch to probe missing judicial report on VHP leader’s killing
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has handed over the investigation of missing files from the Chief Minister's Office regarding a 2008 murder and a hospital fire incident to the Crime Branch.

Through the Reader lens — Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed the Crime Branch to investigate the disappearance of judicial inquiry files from the Chief Minister's Office, specifically concerning two high-profile cases: the 2008 killing of Laxmanananda Saraswati and the deadly 2016 SUM Hospital fire. Both incidents have remained politically and socially sensitive in the state, with long-standing questions about accountability and evidence handling. The move marks a notable intervention by a newly seated CM, suggesting either a genuine cleanup drive or an effort to assert control over legacy BJD-era proceedings. Coverage is uniformly factual, with outlets agreeing on the scope but offering little on what specifically is missing or who may be responsible. Watch for the Crime Branch's preliminary findings, any naming of former officials, and whether political rivals attempt to frame this as either corrective or retaliatory.
What to watch next
- Watch Crime Branch progress report timelines
- Monitor political reactions inside and outside BJP
- Await any charges or suspensions of former officials