Pitabas Panda murder case: 209 lawyers file petition against BJD leader Bikram Panda

As many as 209 lawyers have filed a petition against former MLA Bikram Panda in the Berhampur SDJM Court on Friday in connection with Pitabas Panda murder case.

Earlier, over 40 lawyers had filed vakalatnamas in support of Bikram Panda. Yesterday, Bikram’s legal team had also submitted a petition claiming that he had no involvement in the murder of Pitabas.

The latest filing by the 209 lawyers marks a major development in the ongoing case, as the legal community appears divided over Bikram Panda’s alleged role in the incident.

Meanwhile, Berhampur Superintendent of Police (SP) Saravana Vivek M has submitted a written reply to the Orissa High Court in connection with the murder case. Earlier, the High Court had expressed strong displeasure over the SP’s comments on an election-related case, questioning why his remarks should not be treated as contempt of court.

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The SP has now filed his response explaining his position. The High Court has directed him to submit an affidavit by November 10, the date scheduled for the next hearing in the case.

The controversy arose after the SP, while briefing the media about the murder case, stated that following the 2024 general elections, one Pintu Das had filed an election petition against Berhampur MLA K Anil Kumar. The SP further said that had the Berhampur Assembly election been declared invalid, a by-election would have been held, in which Bikram Panda was expected to contest.

According to the SP’s statement, Bikram Panda had financially supported Pintu Das in filing the petition through Manoj Panda. The SP also claimed that there was a common link between Bikram Panda and Shiba Shankar Das in filing the election petition against the MLA.

These remarks prompted the High Court to take serious note, questioning the SP on why he made such statements and demanding a written explanation.