Court Proceedings Intensify in Soumyashree Bishi Self-Immolation Case

Legal Developments in Balasore

Balasore: On Wednesday, four individuals implicated in the tragic self-immolation case of Soumyashree Bishi were presented before the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Court in Balasore. The defendants include Head of Department Sameer Sahu, former students’ union president Dilip Ghosh, student Jyotiprakash Biswal, and student leader Shubhra Sambit Nayak, all connected to the death of the Integrated B.Ed. student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College. SDJM Kishore Kumar Nath announced that the case has been moved to the District and Sessions Court for expedited proceedings.

Public Prosecutor Bijay Kumar Das stated that the Crime Branch has already filed the charge sheet. He noted, "The case was referred to the higher court today as it is part of the under-trial process (UTP)."

The defense team had also submitted a request for a swift trial in the District and Sessions Court, according to Das. Advocate Guru Prasad Behera, representing Dilip Ghosh, explained that the lower court's decision to transfer the case aims to facilitate quicker legal action. He mentioned that the Crime Branch has provided approximately 840 pages of documentation to each defendant. The Orissa High Court has already reviewed the bail application in detail, with a decision pending.

Records indicate that Soumyashree allegedly endured harassment from Sameer Sahu. Overwhelmed by the situation, she attempted self-immolation on July 12 and tragically passed away two days later while receiving treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on July 14.