The Crime Branch (CB) of Odisha Police has formally urged the Health Department to take strict disciplinary action against a former medical officer from Mayurbhanj district, citing his significant delay in submitting a post-mortem report critical to a sensitive case. The officer delayed the submission of the report for 11 months, a time frame the authorities believe seriously hindered the investigation into the alleged rape and murder case.
The Crime Investigation Department (CID) detailed the sequence of events in a letter addressed to the Health and Family Welfare Department, emphasizing how this delay may have affected the pursuit of justice. The incident in question began on October 3, 2022, when the Badampahar police station registered a case of unnatural death. That same day, the body of the deceased woman was sent to the Rairangpur sub-divisional hospital for a post-mortem examination. The medical officer on duty conducted the autopsy promptly, yet the report was not submitted until almost a year later, on September 20, 2023.
The medical officer should have promptly sent the postmortem report for further follow-up action.
Odisha Crime Branch
This post-mortem report, when finally submitted, contained several crucial findings. The report indicated that the victim had suffered multiple antemortem injuries and noted that postmortem drowning had also occurred. It identified that the probable cause of death was severe trauma to the head, leading to subarachnoid hemorrhage and neurogenic shock—injuries that had been inflicted before the victim’s death. Furthermore, the report detailed injuries to the victim's genitalia and labia minora, which suggested that she had been sexually assaulted, ultimately concluding that this was a case of rape and murder.
The CB expressed its strong criticism of the medical officer for the delay in submitting such an important report. They emphasized that this procrastination might have resulted in the loss of critical evidence, which could have been key to the investigation. Delays of this nature not only hinder investigations but also diminish the chances of securing timely justice in serious criminal cases, such as those involving rape and murder.
Given the gravity of the situation, the Crime Branch has requested that the Health Department take swift disciplinary action against the former medical officer. In addition, they have proposed that the department implement a strict time frame for the submission of post-mortem and injury reports in all medico-legal cases, with particular focus on heinous crimes like rape and murder. This is aimed at ensuring that such delays are not repeated in the future, and that investigations into serious crimes can proceed without unnecessary hindrance.
It is also mentioned that the injuries to the victim’s genitalia and labia minora suggested that she was sexually assaulted and thus it was a clear case of rape and murder.
Crime Branch Report
The CID’s letter to the Health Department highlights the serious implications of bureaucratic delays in criminal investigations, particularly when it comes to sensitive cases. It also serves as a call for greater accountability and stresses the need for more efficient processes to support law enforcement agencies in the timely pursuit of justice. The case, which has already suffered from a prolonged investigative process, could stand as an example for the importance of a streamlined approach to the handling of medico-legal cases.
The Crime Branch's request to the Health Department underscores the need for better oversight and timely action in criminal investigations. Without such measures, critical clues may be lost, and the possibility of justice delayed becomes all the more likely. As a preventive step, the Crime Branch has also urged the department to consider imposing clear deadlines for all medical officers responsible for handling post-mortem reports, particularly in cases involving severe crimes. These steps are not only essential for a smoother investigative process but also vital for upholding the integrity of the justice system.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Yash Kamble/MSM)
