“Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi and Law Minister Shri Prithiviraj Harichandan’s Demand for Answers Leads to One of Odisha’s Most Significant Administrative Investigations”
In what is emerging as one of the most significant administrative investigations in Odisha in recent years, the Government of Odisha, under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, has intensified its investigation into the disappearance of two high-profile inquiry commission reports from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). The investigation reflects the government’s stated commitment to transparency, institutional accountability, and the protection of official records irrespective of the stature of those who may be questioned.
The latest development came when the Capital Police, Bhubaneswar, issued a notice to former IAS officer V.K. Pandian, directing him to appear before investigators on 25 July 2026. The notice states that investigators believe he may be acquainted with facts relevant to the investigation and requests his cooperation. Importantly, the summons forms part of an ongoing investigation and does not by itself establish any wrongdoing or guilt.
A Probe That Began With Questions Raised by the Law Minister
The controversy first entered the public domain after Law Minister Shri Prithiviraj Harichandan publicly stated that two important inquiry commission reports relating to major incidents in Odisha were missing from the Chief Minister’s Office. Following these statements, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said that if the allegations were found to be genuine, the government would ensure a thorough investigation. Subsequently, the Home Department lodged an FIR, leading to a formal criminal investigation.
This sequence of events highlights the complementary roles played by the state’s leadership: the Law Minister brought the issue into public focus, while the Chief Minister backed a formal institutional response through the legal process.
Two Sensitive Reports at the Centre of the Investigation
The investigation revolves around the disappearance of two significant inquiry reports:
- Justice A.S. Naidu Commission Report relating to the 2008 assassination of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and the subsequent Kandhamal violence.
- Revenue Divisional Commissioner’s Inquiry Report into the 2016 SUM Hospital fire tragedy, in which multiple patients lost their lives.
According to the FIR, both reports had been submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office during the previous administration but could not be traced when official records were reviewed after the change of government.
FIR Followed Repeated Searches
The FIR filed by the Odisha Home Department states that repeated searches failed to locate the two reports.
It further notes that while numerous official files and reports forwarded to the CMO were returned to the Home Department following the 2024 change in government, these two inquiry reports were not among them. Investigators are examining whether the records were misplaced, retained, concealed, destroyed, or otherwise unlawfully dealt with. The FIR invokes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to criminal breach of trust by a public servant, concealment or destruction of official documents, and criminal conspiracy.
Investigation Continues to Expand
Before issuing notice to V.K. Pandian, investigators had already questioned or summoned several former senior officials associated with the previous administration.
Former IT Secretary Manoj Mishra appeared before investigators and recorded his statement, while notices were also issued to former senior bureaucrats Rajesh Verma and U.N. Behera as the scope of the investigation widened. Police have maintained that these individuals are being examined because they may possess information relevant to the movement of official records.
Government Emphasises Institutional Accountability
Since assuming office in 2024, the Mohan Charan Majhi Government has repeatedly emphasised transparency, good governance, and institutional accountability.
Supporters of the government’s approach argue that sensitive public records—particularly those concerning judicial and administrative inquiries into major incidents—must be preserved securely and handled strictly in accordance with the law. The present investigation is being presented by the government as part of that broader governance agenda.
Why These Reports Matter
The two inquiry reports concern events that had a profound impact on Odisha’s history.
The 2008 killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and the violence that followed remain among the state’s most significant law-and-order episodes.
Similarly, the 2016 SUM Hospital fire prompted serious questions about hospital safety, emergency preparedness, and regulatory oversight after claiming multiple lives.
Ensuring that inquiry reports relating to such incidents remain available within official records is important for governance, public administration, institutional memory, and future policy decisions.
The Road Ahead
With V.K. Pandian scheduled to appear before investigators on 25 July, the investigation has entered another significant stage.
The outcome will depend on documentary evidence, witness statements, and the due legal process. At present, no court has reached any finding against any individual, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Nevertheless, the case has already become one of Odisha’s most closely watched administrative investigations, highlighting the state’s renewed focus on safeguarding official records and reinforcing public confidence in institutional processes.
For the Mohan Charan Majhi Government, the investigation represents an opportunity to demonstrate that questions surrounding sensitive government records will be examined through established legal procedures. For Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, whose public remarks brought the issue into the spotlight before the formal investigation began, it marks a notable role in initiating a debate on accountability within public administration. The final conclusions, however, will rest on the evidence gathered and the outcome of the ongoing investigation.