Cuttack/Berhampur: The Orissa High Court on Friday expressed displeasure over Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M’s statement, linking the ongoing probe into the murder of senior advocate and BJP leader Pitabas Panda with an election petition pending before it.
“If true, it is indeed disturbing to observe that a police officer as senior as the SP chose to publicly comment on an ongoing election dispute before this court. In the video submitted before the court, the SP is also seen commenting on the possible outcome of the election petition, which is entirely unwarranted,” the single judge bench of Justice Sashikanta Mishra said, taking serious note of the remarks, after the petitioner, Manoj Kumar Panda, submitted an affidavit alleging that he was illegally detained and interrogated by police officers about the petition.
Panda, a voter, had challenged the election of BJP MLA K Anil Kumar from Berhampur assembly constituency.
The High Court has directed the SP to submit his response by November 7, when the matter will be taken up again, explaining why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against him.
“This court therefore, deems it proper to call for an explanation from the SP, Berhampur as to under what circumstances and for what reason he gave the above statement, if at all, referring especially to the election petition being heard by this court and as to why such conduct shall not be treated as contempt of this court,” Justice Mishra added.
WHAT DID THE SP SAY?
While sharing details regarding the ongoing investigation into the October 6 murder, the Berhampur SP mentioned that an election petition had emerged as a common political link between former MLA Bikram Panda and former BeMC Mayor Siba Sankar Dash alias Pintu Das, who police alleged were the masterminds behind a criminal conspiracy to eliminate Pitabas Panda.
“An election petition was filed on May 19, 2024, against the sitting MLA of Berhampur K Anil Kumar. The petition was filed in the name of a helper who works at Pintu Das’s residence. In reality, it was filed by Pintu Das himself. However, the legal expenses and advocate fees for pursuing the election petition were being borne by Bikram Panda,” the SP told presser while elaborating on how police established their involvement in the murder.
He further stated that Pintu Das is directly involved in the case and the election petition proved the partnership between them. “The understanding between them was that if the MLA were disqualified as a result of the petition, Bikram Panda would contest the Assembly seat in the by-election, and using his influence through corporators, he would help make Pintu Das the Mayor,” the SP explained.
