TV
In a significant development, the Orissa High Court on Monday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of senior IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi in connection with a Rs 10 lakh bribery case. The officer had approached the court to avoid arrest by the CBI.
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According to sources, the High Court has dismissed the anticipatory bail application of senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Bishnupada Sethi, who is under probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a Rs 10 lakh bribery case.
The decision comes as a major blow to the senior IAS officer, who had sought protection from arrest amid the corruption probe.
Sethi had filed for the anticipatory bail in a bid to avoid CBI custody, citing concerns over possible arrest during the ongoing probe. The court, however, found insufficient grounds to grant relief and ruled in favour of allowing the legal process to take its course.
The case revolves around allegations that Sethi was involved in accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh, prompting the investigative agency to initiate formal proceedings.
Sources suggest that the CBI has gathered substantial preliminary evidence, leading to the rejection of the bail plea.
With the High Court’s decision, the CBI is now expected to intensify its efforts in the case. Legal experts believe this could set a precedent for similar high-profile corruption cases involving public officials.
No comments were received from the CBI in this regard.
Worth mentioning, the CBI had conducted an extensive search on the official residence of IAS officer Sethi in Bhubaneswar on February 18. The operation was part of an ongoing probe involving Sethi’s alleged link with the Bridge and Roof Company Limited.
An eight-member CBI team from New Delhi had arrived at Sethi’s official quarters at around 8.00 AM, initiating searches connected to the alleged irregularities linked to the Bridge and Roof Company Limited. They also quizzed Sethi about the matter.
