Berhampur SP tenders unconditional apology before Orissa HC over Pitabas Panda murder case remark

The Orissa High Court on Tuesday accepted the unconditional apology of Berhampur Superintendent of Police (SP) Shravan Vivek M. over his controversial remark linking the murder of advocate Pitabas Panda to an election-related case.

The SP appeared personally before the Court and submitted a written apology, expressing regret for his statement made during a press briefing last month.

SP Appears In Person

Sources reported that during the hearing, SP Shravan told the Court that his comments were made without any intention to disrespect the judiciary or interfere with pending proceedings.

He reportedly submitted a written affidavit stating he had no intention of undermining the authority of the Court or influencing the ongoing investigation. The High Court accepted the apology and decided not to pursue contempt proceedings against him.

The development came after the Court last week directed the Berhampur SP to appear in person on November 11 to explain his comments and submit a written affidavit clarifying his stance.

High Court Directs DGP to Issue Guidelines

Sources added that, in its order, the High Court also directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to issue instructions to all police officers across Odisha, advising them to refrain from making public remarks on cases pending before the judiciary. The Court observed that such comments could prejudice ongoing trials and compromise judicial propriety.

The controversy erupted when the Berhampur SP, while addressing the media after the initial breakthrough in the Pitabas Panda murder case, attributed the motive behind the killing to an election-related dispute. His remarks triggered strong reactions from the legal fraternity and the victim’s family, who alleged that such statements could influence the course of justice.

Following public outcry, a petition was filed before the High Court, prompting it to seek an explanation from the SP. On November 8, the Court had warned that it would consider contempt proceedings if a satisfactory explanation was not provided.

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With the SP’s unconditional apology now accepted, the High Court has decided not to proceed further with the contempt issue, informed sources.

Meanwhile, the Pitabas Panda murder case, which continues to be under investigation, remains one of the most closely followed cases in Ganjam district, with police reconstructing crime scenes and interrogating key accused.