Senior IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi suffered a significant legal setback as the Orissa High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea in a bribery case being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The court, presided over by Justice V. Narasingh, also lifted the interim protection granted to Sethi on July 3, intensifying fears of his imminent arrest. The CBI had filed a case against Sethi, alleging his involvement in a ₹10 lakh bribery scandal linked to the clearance of a bill related to Bridge and Roof Corporation Limited.
Following the allegations, the CBI conducted raids at Sethi’s residence, seizing various documents and freezing bank accounts belonging to him and his wife. Sethi approached the Orissa High Court, seeking to quash the case and secure anticipatory bail, claiming that he and his family were being unfairly targeted.
On July 3, the court had granted Sethi interim protection while hearing his plea. However, after a thorough review of the case, including the CBI’s submission of a case diary and investigation status report, the court reserved its judgment on July 18.
On Monday, July 28, Justice Narasingh delivered the verdict, dismissing Sethi’s bail application and withdrawing the interim relief. The CBI, represented by Special Public Prosecutor Sarthak Nayak, argued that the evidence pointed to Sethi’s involvement in the bribery case.
Meanwhile, Sethi’s legal team, led by senior advocate Debashish Panda, maintained his innocence, asserting that the accusations were baseless.
Despite their efforts, the court’s ruling has heightened the possibility of Sethi’s arrest, marking a critical development in the ongoing investigation.
This case has drawn significant attention in Odisha, given Sethi’s prominence as a senior bureaucrat. The CBI’s probe into the bribery allegations is expected to continue, with further developments likely to unfold.
