Senior IAS officer interrogated in Budhia coach murder case

Bhubaneswar, Apr 28 (UNI) Senior IAS officer and Principal Secretary of Commerce and Transport Department Priyabrata Pattnaik was today interrogated by police in connection with murder of child marathon sensation Budhia Singh's coach Biranchi Das.

The interrogation of Mr Pattnaik, who admitted his closeness with Biranchi Das for the last 13 years, took place in the chamber of Police Commissioner Binaya Behera's office after co-accused Akhata Behera alias Chagala repeatedly referred his name during the interrogation.

Chagala, a close associate of gangster Raja Acharaya, the prime suspect in the coach murder case, was arrested in Bhopal last week while appearing for a live interview in a local TV channel there.

He was brought to Orissa on a transit remand here and later produced before the SDJM court on April 24 and sent to five -day police remand for further interrogation.

Police said, Chagala had confessed that Raja Acharaya had shot dead Biranchi Das on the evening of April 13 before the Judo Association hall, but maintained that he (Raja Acharaya) was paid Rs two lakh to eliminate Biranchi Das.

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