India, July 27 -- Former Gajapati Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sangram Behera, an accused in the high-profile Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra death case, surrendered before the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Court in Paralakhemundi on Monday through his counsel. The Orissa High Court had earlier granted him an additional period of two weeks to surrender before the lower court.

Following his surrender, Behera moved a bail application before the SDJM Court. However, the court rejected his plea. He has subsequently approached the District and Sessions Court seeking bail.

After his tenure as the Gajapati DFO, Behera was serving as the Principal of the Forest Ranger College in Anugola from Januar...