Bhubaneswar: In a setback for senior IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi, the Orissa High Court on Monday rejected his anticipatory bail application in connection with a bribery case of CBI involving the Bridge and Roof Company Ltd.
The High Court had earlier reserved its verdict after completing hearing on Serni’s petition. On Monday, Justice V Narasingh rejected Sethi’s petition in the bribery case.
The case relates to an incident on December 8, 2024, when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) apprehended Chanchal Mukherjee, Director of Bridge and Roof Company Ltd., while allegedly accepting Rs ten lakh bribe from a contractor near a prominent hotel in Bhubaneswar. Besides Mukherjee, the CBI arrested contractor Santosh Maharana and alleged middleman Debadatta Mahapatra, triggering a wider probe into corruption and influence peddling.
During the course of the investigation, the name of Bishnupada Sethi surfaced, leading the CBI to conduct a raid on his official quarters in February 2025. Sethi publicly denied any wrongdoing, claiming he was being framed in a politically motivated conspiracy.
The CBI had earlier summoned Sethi to depose before it for investigation into the bribery case for his alleged link with Mukherjee and two other accused—Debadutta Mohapatra and Santosh Moharana.
Sethi approached the High Court earlier this month seeking interim protection from action in the ongoing CBI probe. The court had granted temporary relief and also directed that security arrangements be made for Sethi, citing concerns over his safety.
