Pitabas Panda murder case: Former BJD leader Bikram Panda, 4 others’ bail plea rejected

In a significant development in the high-profile murder case of senior lawyer and BJP leader Pitabas Panda, the Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADJ)-III court in Berhampur on Tuesday rejected the bail application of prime accused Bikram Panda, a former BJD legislator.

According to sources, the court also dismissed the bail pleas of four other accused in the case. The court’s order came amid intense legal proceedings surrounding Bikram Panda’s arrest and custody. 

Earlier, his advocates, K.K. Behera and Deepak Pattnaik, had moved the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court, challenging the legality of his arrest. The petition alleged that Bikram Panda was taken into custody without proper justification and in violation of Articles 21 and 22 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee personal liberty and procedural safeguards.

The plea, which claimed that the police failed to follow mandatory arrest protocols and subjected the former MLA to undue hardship, was heard on Thursday. However, the government counsel sought additional time to place its response on record, following which the matter was deferred. 

While the SDJM court is expected to deliver its order on the arrest challenge, the ADJ-III court, after hearing arguments in the bail matter, chose to reject bail for Bikram Panda and the other accused.

The case has drawn widespread public and political attention due to the prominence of those involved and the gravity of the allegations. Pitabas Panda, a well-known lawyer and influential BJP leader from Berhampur city in Ganjam, was shot dead on October 6, triggering shock and outrage across the region.

As part of the ongoing investigation, police have seized two firearms from the accused and sent them to the State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL) in Bhubaneswar for ballistic examination. Officials said the ballistic tests are crucial to determine the type of bullets used and establish the sequence and method of the killing.

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With the bail pleas rejected, the accused will continue to remain in judicial custody as the investigation progresses. Further court proceedings are expected in the coming days as the prosecution and defence pursue their respective legal remedies.