Former Officials Rajesh Verma and Manoj Kumar Mishra Also Served Notices in File Mishandling Probe

In addition to Upendra Nath Behera, the Odisha police have extended notices to other former senior bureaucrats linked to the missing investigation reports. Retired IAS officer Rajesh Verma received a fresh notice demanding his presence at the Bhubaneswar UPS ACP Zone‑1 office by July 30. Verma had previously been asked to appear on July 22 but failed to do so.

Earlier, the police had also issued notices to former IT Secretary Manoj Kumar Mishra, who complied on July 18 and gave his statement to the investigating officer. Both officers are suspected of having access to, or knowledge about, the two critical files: the 2008 Jalespeta murder commission report and the 2016 fire investigation report.

The investigation continues under the direction of senior officials from the Home Department, who allege that the disappearance of these reports may impede accountability for high‑profile incidents that occurred during the previous government’s tenure.