The legal troubles of senior IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi have deepened as the Orissa High Court has revoked his interim protection in a high-profile bribery investigation led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The case revolves around allegations of a Rs 10 lakh bribe involving the Odisha Bridge and Roof Corporation. Earlier this year, the CBI conducted a raid on Sethi’s residence after a key official of the PSU was arrested and reportedly named the bureaucrat during interrogation.
Following the raid, Sethi had approached the High Court seeking relief from any coercive action. While interim protection was initially granted during preliminary hearings, the court has now withdrawn it, rejecting his bail plea in the process.
With the latest ruling, the chances of Sethi’s arrest have significantly increased, and the investigation is expected to gain momentum. The development marks a turning point in one of Odisha’s most-watched corruption cases in recent years.