Odisha Crime Branch begins psychological autopsy in Aditya Dash death case

BHUBANESWAR: The state Crime Branch has started the process of conducting psychological autopsy into noted social worker Aditya Dash’s mysterious death. The probe agency has assigned a senior professor in psychology of a reputed university in the state to analyse Aditya’s suicide note and diary.
The development coincided with Aditya's widow Bidyashree moving the Orissa high court on Friday, seeking CBI probe into his death. Aditya’s body was found along the railway track near Lingaraj station here on July 7. While police suspect his death was caused by suicide, the family members have been alleging he was murdered.
“We have handed over Aditya’s diary and four-page suicide note to the psychologist for psychological autopsy. Experts of the handwriting bureau already confirmed that the letter was written by Aditya. The psychologist would now study and analyse the contents of the suicide note and give us a detailed report. The expert can know if Aditya wrote the letter under duress or not,” a senior Crime Branch officer said.
The state police earlier conducted the psychological autopsy only in a handful of sensitive suicide cases. “A psychological autopsy is conducted to reconstruct the deceased's circumstances and mental state in the days preceding the death. We are planning to take the help of the psychologist for an in-depth analysis of Aditya’s personal, social and family life. The psychologist will question Aditya’s family members and close friends,” the officer said.
Bidyashree, who underwent polygraph test at the state forensic science laboratory (SFSL) in connection with the investigation on Thursday, felt the CBI could unravel the mystery of her husband’s death. “I do not want to blame the government railway police, which had earlier probed the case, and the current probe agency Crime Branch on the quality of investigation. But, I feel the case should be handed over to the CBI,” Bidyashree said.
On Friday, three friends of Aditya were subjected to a lie detector test at the SFSL. Bikas Baral, Smruti Ranjan Sethi and Deepak Behera, the three persons, are members of Aditya’s NGO, People for Seva that runs an old age home in Sundarpada area here.