Former MLA Bikram Panda held for alleged role in murder of advocate Pitabas Panda

Bhubaneswar, Oct 22: In a major breakthrough, Berhampur police on Wednesday arrested former MLA and Ganjam BJD president Bikram Panda for his alleged involvement in plotting the murder of senior advocate and BJP leader Pitabas Panda.

According to Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M, a total of 12 people have been taken into custody in connection with the case. Those arrested include former Berhampur Mayor Siba Shankar Das alias Pintu Das, corporator Malay Bisoi, student leader Madan Dalei, two professional shooters, a local gunman, and another person assigned to monitor the advocate’s movements.

Police investigations revealed that the sharpshooter received an advance of ₹10 lakh for the hit. Chintu Pradhan was reportedly driving the vehicle, while Kurupati Bhuyan pulled the trigger. The conspiracy was coordinated by Malay Bisoi and Madan Dalei, allegedly under the direction of Bikram Panda and Pintu Das, who arranged around ₹50 lakh to execute the crime.

After interrogation, the accused were presented before a local court, which rejected their bail pleas and sent them to 14 days of judicial custody. Earlier, Bikram Panda had been questioned regarding suspicious financial dealings possibly linked to the crime.

Pitabas Panda, a respected Odisha State Bar Council member, was shot dead on October 6 by two bike-borne assailants near his residence under Baidyanathpur police limits. He sustained fatal injuries and was declared dead on arrival at MKCG Medical College and Hospital.