CBI to investigate molestation charges against Orissa advocate general

The Orissa high court has ordered a CBI inquiry into the molestation and dowry torture cases filed by Anjana Mishra against state Advocate General Indrajeet Roy and her husband Subash Mishra, an Indian Forest Service officer, respectively.

The direction was issued by Chief Justice S N Phukan and Justice Arijit Pasayat while disposing of a writ and public interest litigations on the issue.

The court has asked the CBI director to constitute a special cell and take over cases from the state police due to certain allegations against several IPS officers in the state.

While Anjana Mishra -- in a fresh affidavit in the high court -- had urged for a CBI inquiry into an attempted rape case against the advocate general, the counsel for the state government and the state director general of police vehemently opposed her request. They ruled out any justification in handing over the case to the CBI as the investigation was being conducted by the police 'without any prejudice or bias.'

Chief Minister J B Patnaik had earlier turned down the demands made by the Opposition parties and other voluntary organisations for the advocate general's immediate arrest.

Anjana Mishra, a mother of two and daughter of a retired chief engineer of the state, had filed a case at the cantonment police station on July 19. She alleged that the advocate general, who was the chief public prosecutor in a dowry/torture case against her husband Subash Mishra, had tried to rape her at his official residence. She was invited there by Roy to discuss her case.

Refuting her charges as ''totally false and a political conspiracy'', Roy moved the high court seeking anticipatory bail. He alleged Anjana Mishra was suffering from ''mental disorder and schizophrenia''.

The high court judges have also directed the CBI to file an interim report regarding the alleged violation of the Supreme Court orders in the matter of the arrest.

The judges, however, took serious exception to the staging of demonstrations by different political parties before the entrance of the Orissa high court demanding Roy's arrest.

Chief Justice Phukan could only enter the high court under police protection when a group of CPI supporters blocked his car. In its earlier order, the court had ruled that the victim, who is now in a destitute home for women and children, be handed over to her parents and be provided with adequate police protection as she apprehended a danger to her life.

However, Anjana Mishra continues to live in the home for destitutes as her father has not filed an affidavit expressing his willingness to take his daughter back home.