Berhampur: The Additional District and Sessions Judge (III) has rejected the plea of former Berhampur MLA Bikram Panda, the prime accused in lawyer Pitabas Panda murder case, to undergo medical treatment and surgery at a private hospital.
Instead, the court directed that Bikram would undergo the required procedure at the government-run MKCG Medical College and Hospital here while remaining in judicial custody. His family members has also been allowed to remain present at the hospital during his surgery and treatment.
The former MLA, who has been lodged in Berhampur Circle Jail following his arrest in December last year, was reportedly discharged in haste and sent back to jail on February 16 without undergoing the surgery only to be readmitted to the same hospital a day later at around 9 pm, c
asting doubts over the handling of his medical condition.
The matter escalated further when Bikram’s defence counsel, Dipak Patnaik, moved a review petition before the court on February 17, seeking clarity and intervention regarding the uncertainties surrounding his treatment. “The court had yesterday ordered for a consent from Bikram Panda for the surgery. Accordingly, he gave his consent for the same from the jail. However, the plea to undergo treatment at a private hospital has been rejected. No dates have yet been decided for the surgery. The jail superintendent has been instructed to facilitate the required medical procedure in consultation with the hospital authorities,” he told reporters.
Earlier, Superintendent of MKCG and head of the seven-member medical team Dr Durga Satpathy clarified that Bikram has been diagnosed with gall bladder stones and is also suffering from piles. He added that the former MLA would require thorough preoperative evaluation, including anaesthesia clearance and cardiology assessments, before any surgical intervention. The medical authorities also maintained that the patient’s formal consent was mandatory prior to proceeding with the operation.