India, July 28 -- Former Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sangram Keshari Behera was on Tuesday remanded to judicial custody after a local court rejected his bail plea in connection with the 2021 death of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mahapatra.

Behera had surrendered before the SDJM Court in Paralakhemundi on Monday after remaining out of reach for a prolonged period to avoid arrest. Following his surrender, he moved a bail application, which was rejected by the court. He was subsequently sent to the Paralakhemundi sub-jail.

The case pertains to the mysterious death of ACF Soumya Ranjan Mahapatra, who suffered severe burn injuries and died on July 13, 2021, under suspicious circumstances while posted in Paralakhe...