Former IT Secretary Manoj Mishra Appears Before Police in Missing CMO Files Case

Former IT Secretary and retired Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer Manoj Mishra on Saturday appeared before the Capital Police Station in connection with the investigation into the alleged disappearance of key inquiry commission files from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

Speaking to reporters after appearing before the investigating officer, Mishra said the police are questioning all officials who were associated with the CMO during the relevant period when the files reportedly went missing. He said he had fully cooperated with the investigation and provided all information sought by the police.

“As the investigation is currently underway, it would not be appropriate to disclose all the details in the public domain,” Mishra said.

Police Summon Former Officials

The investigating officer had directed two retired senior officials to appear before the police and submit relevant information by July 22.

Among them is former IAS officer Rajesh Verma, who served as Principal Secretary to former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik from 2017 to 2022. Verma is currently serving as the Chairperson of the Commission for Air Quality Management.

Manoj Mishra, who retired from the Indian Railway Traffic Service, had served as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Naveen Patnaik from 2023 until the BJD government demitted office after the 2024 Assembly elections. He later resigned from his position.

FIR Filed Over Missing Commission Reports

The case stems from an FIR lodged by the Odisha Home Department on June 10, alleging that two important inquiry commission reports had gone missing from the Chief Minister’s Office.

One of the missing documents is the Justice Naidu Commission Report relating to the 2008 murder of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.

According to the FIR, after the change of government following the 2024 Assembly elections, all files from the CMO were transferred to the Home Department. However, the two commission reports were reportedly not among the files received, prompting the department to file a police complaint.

The investigation is currently underway, with police questioning former officials who had access to the files during their tenure to determine how the documents went missing.