Bhubaneswar, March 28: Police said they could reopen the case of two youths killed in a road accident in April 2013. They suspect the role of former Congress MLA Ramesh Jena behind it.

The police arrested Jena on March 6 for a string of criminal activities.

The Cuttack-Bhubaneswar police today received a request from their counterparts in Berhampur to reopen the case. The case pertains to the death of Gupteswar Padhi, 29, and Rabindra Behera, 30, both from Ganjam district and suspected to be Jena's associates. The police had also seized a pistol and a live bullet from the deceased.

Deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi today said they had received a letter from the Berhampur police. "Behera's father has also lodged a complaint at Mancheswar police station. We are examining the matter and may reopen the case," said Bhoi.

Rabindra's father Siddhartha has alleged foul play in the road mishap case. "My son had been with Ramesh Jena for around 14 years, but later decided not to keep in touch with him. On the fateful day, my son had gone to Bhubaneswar. The police told us he was killed in a road accident. We strongly suspect Jena's hand behind the incident," Siddhartha said.

However, the police admitted that it would be very difficult to establish the allegations made by Rabindra's father.

"The truck which had mowed down the duo could not be traced. Besides, the incident had taken place three years ago," said a senior police official.

On the other hand, Berhampur police have decided to make a fresh appeal before the sub-divisional judicial magistrate to take Jena and three others on a seven-day remand for further interrogation in a land fraud case in the city.