Berhampur: Former Berhampur MLA Bikram Panda, the prime accused in the lawyer Pitabas Panda murder case, has been shifted back to Brahmapur Jail amid tight security after being discharged from MKCG Medical College and Hospital on Monday.
The former legislator was admitted to the hospital on February 8 after complaining of health issues, including piles, tooth pain, high blood pressure, and abdominal discomfort while in Berhampur Jail, where he is lodged since his arrest on October 22, 2025. A team of doctors, including a six-member panel, evaluated his condition and recommended surgery for gall bladder stones. However, the procedure did not take place.
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Medical Superintendent Dr Durga Madhav Satpathy explained that the hospital required consent letters from both Bikram’s family members and jail authorities to proceed with the surgery, which were not provided. As a result, he was discharged without undergoing the recommended operation.
Panda’s lawyer Dipak Patnaik, however, claimed that he was discharged hastily. He alleged that pressure on hospital authorities may have influenced the move and claimed that his client had not fully recovered. The lawyer argued that the move could jeopardise his client’s health and he would file a petition for his re-admission to the hospital.
Meanwhile, a video has gone viral on social media in which Bikram can be seen questioning hospital staff about why he is being discharged without surgery and prior information. The former MLA also claims he had given consent for the same.
Bikram along with five other accused are likely to be produced before a court on Tuesday, sources said.
