BJP leader Pitabas Panda murder case: Former corporator, student leader among 10 detained

In a major development in the murder case of senior advocate and BJP leader Pitabas Panda, Berhampur Police have detained multiple suspects, including a former corporator and a student leader, as part of an ongoing multi-state investigation.

Reports added that some individuals with prior criminal records are also under custody, and sources indicate that eight to ten people are currently under detention and are being questioned in connection with the killing.

Arrests & Interrogations

According to the sources, over the past two days, police have detained the former corporator and student leader from a yet undisclosed political party, subjecting them to prolonged interrogation.

Additional suspects from Odisha, Bihar, Delhi, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh are reported to be in police custody. Law enforcement officials are investigating the possible involvement of these individuals in planning and executing the attack on Panda. Several rounds of questioning are underway to establish connections and motives.

UPI Transactions Under Scanner

The latest lead in the investigation is the examination of online financial transactions linked to the case. One transaction reportedly involved a person in Berhampur sending funds from a local address to recipients outside Odisha.

Police believe these transactions may be connected to the coordination and funding of the murder, suggesting a broader conspiracy that spans multiple states.

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Multi-State Probe

The investigation has included coordinated surveillance and intelligence gathering across Bihar, Delhi, Kolkata, and the local districts of Odisha.

As part of the inquiry, two suspects from Bihar were apprehended on October 16. One is a sharpshooter believed to have fired the fatal shot, while the other is suspected of conducting reconnaissance prior to the attack. Both were brought to Berhampur for questioning.

Notably, Pitabas Panda was shot at close range near his residence in the Kamapalli area on October 6. Panda, a senior advocate and prominent BJP leader in southern Odisha, was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead.