Bhubaneswar, July 28: The Odisha government has directed the State Crime Branch to investigate the disappearance of the Justice A.S. Naidu Commission report related to the 2008 assassination of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered the probe after officials discovered that the confidential report was missing from government records, triggering serious concerns over the security and management of important official documents.

The Justice A.S. Naidu Commission was constituted by the state government to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and the large-scale communal violence that followed in Kandhamal district in August 2008. After conducting an extensive inquiry over several years, the commission submitted its findings to the government. However, the report has reportedly remained untraceable, prompting the present administration to initiate a formal investigation.

According to government sources, the Chief Minister has instructed the Crime Branch to carry out a comprehensive and impartial probe to determine how such an important document went missing. Investigators have been asked to establish the sequence of events leading to the disappearance, identify those responsible, and recommend legal action if any negligence or deliberate wrongdoing is found.

The matter first came to light after officials noticed that the commission report could not be located during an internal review of government records. Based on a complaint filed by the Home Department, the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against unknown persons. Following preliminary inquiries, the state government decided that the case required a more detailed investigation by the Crime Branch because of the sensitivity of the missing document.

Officials believe the inquiry will involve examining records related to the movement and custody of the file, questioning present and former government officials, and reviewing administrative procedures followed after the change of government in 2024. Investigators are also expected to determine whether the report was misplaced due to administrative lapses or removed intentionally.

The disappearance of the Naidu Commission report has also gained political significance. During the 2024 Odisha Assembly election campaign, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had promised that if elected to power, it would make the commission's findings public. The loss of the report has therefore raised questions among political parties and the public regarding accountability and the preservation of official records.

Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, a prominent VHP leader, was assassinated along with four associates at his ashram in Kandhamal on August 23, 2008. The incident sparked widespread communal violence across the district, leading to loss of lives, displacement of residents, and extensive damage to property. In response to the violence and public demand for a detailed inquiry, the state government established the Justice A.S. Naidu Commission to investigate the incident and recommend appropriate measures.

The Odisha government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in public administration. Officials have assured that the Crime Branch will conduct a fair and time-bound investigation to trace the missing report and identify those responsible. The findings of the probe are expected to help strengthen confidence in the government's handling of sensitive records while ensuring that any lapses are dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.

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