Cuttack: The Orissa High Court, in its interim order on Thursday, allowed the Gopalpur MLA and expelled BJD leader Pradeep Panigrahi to consult his lawyer in Jharpada Special Jail.
Talking to mediapersons, Panigrahi’s counsel Pitambar Acharya said as the jail authorities did not allow his client to consult him on the pretext of COVID-19 norms, he had filed a writ petition stating that the directive of the jail authorities is a violation of Article 21 and 22 of the Constitution as well as Odisha Prison Rules, 2020.
The court, after admitting the petition has allowed Panigrahi to consult his lawyer.
Notably, Panigrahi has been arrested in connection with money laundering and alleged job fraud in Tata Motors.
It may be mentioned that Acharya had contested from the Hinjili constituency as a BJP candidate in the 2019 Assembly polls and was defeated by his rival and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik by 60,160 votes.
