Odisha Police have successfully cracked the perplexing murder case of State Bar Council member Pitabas Panda, making a significant breakthrough with the arrest of twelve individuals. Among those apprehended are prominent political figures, including Bikram Panda, a Biju Janata Dal leader and former Berhampur MLA, and Siba Shankar Das, the former mayor of Berhampur Municipal Corporation.
The police investigation also led to the arrest of Malay Bisoi, a sitting BJD corporator, for his alleged crucial role in the heinous crime. All those arrested have since been presented before the court.
Berhampur Superintendent of Police Saravana Vivek M. disclosed in a press conference that both Bikram Panda and Siba Shankar Das harbored personal and professional animosity towards the deceased. Driven by their belief that the lawyer was obstructing their political ambitions, they allegedly orchestrated his elimination by hiring contract killers through their close associates.
SP Saravana further elaborated that former MLA Panda had convinced Das they could challenge and secure the disqualification of the current Berhampur MLA through an election petition. Panda reportedly believed that upon the current MLA’s disqualification, he would regain his position, thereby assisting Das in reclaiming the mayor’s seat.
According to the SP, former mayor Das arranged for a daily wager, known to him, to file the election petition, with all legal expenses covertly financed by Bikram Panda.
Pitabas Panda, who was also a BJP leader, met a tragic end on the night of October 6, when he was shot dead at point-blank range by hired gunmen. The police stated that despite securing the highest votes in the State Bar Council election, Panda couldn’t secure a significant position thereafter. He reportedly blamed former MLA Bikram Panda for this setback and had openly threatened to ruin his political career.
The Berhampur SP revealed more details of the intricate murder plot, indicating that the conspirators had made two prior attempts on Panda’s life in September and October. Initially, two criminals from Bihar were hired, who even conducted reconnaissance of Panda’s movements. However, this plan was abandoned in September due to one of the hitmen facing a medical emergency. Subsequently, a different team of assassins was engaged to carry out the murder.
The hired killers were allegedly promised a sum of ₹50 lakh for successfully executing the murder. Currently, three key accused, including Kurupati Bhuyan, who is believed to have fired the fatal shot, remain at large.
In response to Bikram Panda’s arrest, the BJD party claimed that their former MLA was being unfairly targeted and was innocent of any involvement in the crime.
Senior BJD leader Pramila Mallick alleged that the police investigation was flawed and influenced by the BJP government, accusing them of fabricating the murder theory to implicate a BJD leader. She further claimed that State Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena was the true culprit, but the government was shielding him to avoid scandal, especially with the BJP facing potential losses in the Nuapada bypoll.
Countering these allegations, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari expressed dismay, stating it was unfortunate that the BJD was attempting to protect criminals despite the police conducting a thorough investigation that clearly identified those who commissioned the killing, provided the weapon, and offered shelter to the perpetrators.
The brutal murder ignited widespread outrage across the nation. Both the Bar Council of India and the Odisha State Bar Council publicly condemned the killing and called for the swift arrest of all individuals involved in the crime.