Bidyabharati Panda surrendered before the SDJM court in Paralakhemundi on Monday in connection with the 2021 death of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Soumya Ranjan Mahapatra. She surrendered after the Orissa High Court rejected her anticipatory bail plea on October 31. The case dates back to the night of July 12, 2021, when Soumya suffered severe burn injuries at his official residence in Paralakhemundi. He died the next day while undergoing treatment.