IAS Bishnupada Sethi’s anticipatory bail hearing concludes in Orissa High Court, verdict reserved

The Orissa High Court has concluded the hearing on the anticipatory bail application of senior IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi and has reserved its verdict. Meanwhile, the interim protection earlier granted by the court will continue to remain in effect. 

The case stems from an incident on the night of December 8 last year, when the CBI caught the Bridge and Roof Company Ltd. Director Chanchal Mukherjee red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe from a contractor near a star hotel in Bhubaneswar. Along with Chanchal, the CBI arrested the contractor Santosh Maharana and a middleman, Debadatta Mahapatra, launching a full-scale investigation.

During the probe, the name of senior IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi surfaced. In February this year, an 8-member CBI team raided Sethi’s official quarters. Following the raid, Bishnupada Sethi resigned from his post. At the time, he had raised objections before the media regarding the CBI's actions, claiming innocence and alleging that he was the target of a conspiracy.

Must Read: IAS Bishnupada Sethi's trouble deepens, Orissa High Court lifts interim protection

Earlier this month, the Orissa High Court had granted Sethi an interim protection against coercive action in connection with an ongoing CBI investigation into a high-profile bribery case.

The court also directed that Sethi be provided interim security amid growing legal and political scrutiny.

According to sources, Sethi had moved the Orissa HC seeking interim protection in the Rs 10 lakh bribery case.

While hearing his petition, the court granted him protection.