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CB team arrives at Parlakhemundi to probe palace staff death row

In a shocking incidents, the Manager of Paralakhemundi Maharaja Ananga Manjari Patra, another younger sister Bijayalalxmi, and her brother Sanjay Patra had allegedly committed suicide.

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Another brother of the manager Tulu Patra was also found in a critical condition from another room in the same house. He had shown signs of improvement after treatment but succumbed.

Accused of swindling away royal property worth crores, the manager’s body along with two siblings was recovered from his house, on Sunday.

The CB formed a six-member special investigation team (SIT), headed by an Additional SP-ranked officer, which will reach Paralakhemundi on Tuesday to begin probe. Anang Manjari and Bijaylaxmi committed suicide by consuming poison, police sources said.

Ex manager of Parala Maharaja Gopinath Gajapati Narayan Deo Ananga Manjari Patra and her two siblings body was handed over to their relatives for the cremation after the post-mortem conducted at the District Hospital.

Family members of Patra had demanded a CBI probe into the circumstances that had reportedly led to the suicides. Mr. Dev’s daughter Kalyani Gajapati and his brother Jagannath Gajapati Narayan Dev had written to the Gajapati district administration and the Odisha Chief Minister demanding an enquiry into the transactions related to their family assets in the past three decades.

Meanwhile, three suicide notes have been recovered from Anang Manjari Patra’s house, DGP K B Singh told reporters. The suicide notes, about eight to ten pages in total, were tucked in the blouse of Ananga Manjari.

The three bodies were recovered and an unconscious Sanjay was rescued on Sunday afternoon after locals reported to the police that foul smell was emanating from their house that was locked inside.

They alleged that reports in a particular Odia television channel and criticism from some local politicians had compelled them to take the extreme step.

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While the investigation is still at preliminary stage, the Parala rulers’ wealth has been a matter of speculation.

Parala palace mystery deaths: CM Naveen Patnaik orders Crime Branch probe into the case