Police achieved a major breakthrough in the Pitabas Panda murder case by arresting former Berhampur MLA and Ganjam district BJD president Bikram Panda.
The arrest came after hours of intense interrogation over suspected financial links to the crime.
In addition to Bikram Panda, police also detained former Berhampur mayor Siba Shankar Das (Pintu), corporator Malay Bishoyi, and Panda’s associate Madan Dalei. Officers picked them up late Tuesday night and brought them to Baidyanathpur Police Station for questioning.
Lawyer Pitabas Panda, a senior advocate and member of the Odisha State Bar Council, was shot dead near his residence in Brahmanagar on October 6. Two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle opened fire, striking him in the chest. He was rushed to MKCG Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Since the murder, police have explored multiple angles, including political rivalry, financial disputes, and professional enmity. Over the past two weeks, investigators questioned more than 80 individuals and reviewed over 500 CCTV clips. The arrest of prominent political figures has shifted the direction of the case significantly.
On Wednesday, police produced Bikram Panda at the Berhampur court under heavy security. A large police force surrounded the court premises to maintain order. Sources confirmed that officers had taken him into custody the previous night.
Berhampur SP will hold a press conference soon to disclose more details about the investigation and the motive behind the murder.
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