Pitabas Panda murder case: Court to decide former MLA Bikram Panda’s bail plea

The fate of former BJD legislator Bikram Panda in the high-profile Pitabas Panda murder case is set to be decided on Friday, as the court is expected to deliver its verdict.

Also Read: Pitabas Panda murder: Berhampur SP reveals intense 17-day manhunt behind high-profile arrests

Bikram’s advocates, KK Behera and Deepak Pattnaik, have filed a petition in the SDJM court challenging his arrest, alleging it was made without proper justification and in violation of Articles 21 and 22 of the Indian Constitution.

The petition, which argued that Bikram was wrongfully detained by police, was heard on Thursday. However, the government counsel requested additional time to respond, leading to a brief delay in proceedings. Today, the court is expected to announce its decision.

Bikram Panda’s legal team maintains that police did not follow proper protocols during the former MLA’s arrest, highlighting the procedural lapses and arguing that their client was subjected to undue hardship, sources said.

The case continues to draw public attention due to the prominence of individuals involved and the serious nature of the allegations.

Worth mentioning, earlier, in connection with the murder of senior BJP leader Panda, who belonged to Berhampur City of Ganjam district, two firearms seized from the accused were sent to the State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL) in Bhubaneswar for ballistic testing, official sources said on Wednesday.

The ballistic test is crucial to determine the type of bullets used and the method of killing. Pitabas Panda was shot dead on October 6, and the investigation is underway.

So far, as many as 16 suspects have been arrested in connection with the much-debated case and are currently in Berhampur Jail. Police have said they are continuing to probe all aspects of the murder.