Bhubaneswar, June 1: Two senior BJD leaders, including a woman cabinet minister, find themselves on a sticky wicket following serious allegations levelled against them.

While the Opposition is baying for the blood of women and child welfare minister Anjali Behera in connection with the alleged murder of Hindol block chairman Nabghana Sahu, a political rival, Koraput MP Jairam Pangi is facing the heat in connection with another murder case.

Significantly, the crime branch of Orissa Police today took over the probe into the Nabghana Sahu case with the department’s team reaching the spot and launching investigation.

Sahu died on May 14 after being hit by a jeep. His family, however, alleged that Sahu had been murdered.

Additional director general of police (crime branch) Abhaya said the department’s team was on the spot to begin the probe.

Earlier, the police had arrested Tutu Rout, one of the accused in the case. The main accused, Jitu Sahu, is still at large. Jitu is considered to be a close confidant of Anjali.

In the wake of the incident there were allegations that Anjali had been behind the death of Sahu as she perceived him to be a threat to her political career.

There was allegedly a dispute between the two over the ownership of a petrol pump, cashew nuts field and some other business related issues. Incidentally, Anjali’s husband had opted out of government service and started his own business following her rise in politics.

Reacting to the allegations, Anjali told The Telegraph: “I am prepared for a CBI inquiry into the case. Those who are jealous of my rise to power have hatched a political conspiracy against me. They want to defame me.”

Anjali further said she had no business dealings with Sahu. Significantly, it was Anjali who was responsible for the rise of Sahu. However, later they fell out and Sahu stopped coming to the block office. He was not seen there for 18 months at a stretch.

The Opposition parties have been gunning for the minister in wake of the incident. The Congress and BJP have already staged a road blockade demanding her resignation. However, Anjali sought to dismiss the protests saying these were being engineered by elements in the BJP and the Congress who wanted to sabotage her political career. In the last ministerial reshuffle, she was promoted as a cabinet minister.

Significantly, Koraput MP Jayaram Pangi is also facing political heat following allegations that he had played a key role in the murder of BJD stalwart Bhaskar Rao’s two brothers. The twin murders had taken place on May 1 on the premises of a temple in Rayagada district.

“The people arrested by the police had good relations with Pangi. Police should investigate the matter in a transparent way. Some of the party workers also know that Pangi’s hand in the case cannot be ruled out. However, the investigating agency is the best judge,” said Rao.

The BJD leader said a group of party leaders would meet chief minister Naveen Patnaik and present a memorandum demanding a transparent probe into the case. He also hinted at factionalism within the party having led to the murder of his brothers.

Refuting the allegations Pangi said he was being falsely implicated in the case: “These are all baseless allegations. Let the police name me in the FIR first.”