Senior IAS officer Priyabrata Patnaik who was questioned by the Bhubaneswar police in connection with coach Biranchi Das murder case has been relieved of his duties by the Orissa government late on Tuesday evening.

Mr Patnaik who was holding two important posts of principal secretary to the commerce and transport department as well as state government’s nodal officer for the Posco’s proposed 12 million tonne steel project would now function as an ‘officer without duty’.

During interrogation on Monday Mr Patnaik had admitted that he had met Sandeep Acharya alias Raja, the prime suspect in Biranchi murder case.