By IANS,
Bhubaneswar : Investigating officers are veering around to the conclusion that Orissa cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) bureaucrat Jagadananda Panda may have been inebriated when he killed four members of his family “one by one” before committing suicide on July 31.
Panda, 54, was found dead along with his wife, father and two sisters at Deogaon in Bargrah district on July 31. All had bullet injuries.
Police are close to wrapping up the investigation into the gruesome killings, said investigating officer B.K. Das.
“We have received the viscera report. Ethyl alcohol was found in his (Jagdanand Panda’s) blood… The investigation is 90 percent complete. After going through the viscera report and other evidence we have almost arrived at the conclusion that he killed himself after firing at his family members one by one,” Das said.
“He had lost his mental balance after his houses and office were raided by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with an illegal immigration racket. He was upset and had committed the crimes in an inebriated condition,” Das said.
Panda’s son, who managed to survive despite being hit by a bullet, is still undergoing treatment. He is still in shock and unable to speak, the officer disclosed.
Panda had left an envelope containing a four-page note. The fingerprints on the envelope were also found to be his own, he said. The handwriting matched too.
Besides, the bullets found from the dead bodies and from the body of his son who survived were fired from his service revolver and evidence showed that it was Panda who pulled the trigger.
The state police will contact the CBI to seek details of the offences allegedly committed by Panda and is then likely to wrap up the investigation.
Before his death, Panda was posted as protector general of emigrants in New Delhi. He had also worked in the state in various capacities, including as collector, divisional commissioner of revenue and special relief commissioner before going on deputation to the central government.