Berhampur: An accused in the sensational murder case of advocate Pitabas Panda in Odisha’s Berhampur city has been granted bail by a court.
The Court of the Ganjam District and Sessions Judge on Wednesday granted bail to accused Rajendra Sahu on a bond of Rs 50,000 along with one surety. The court, however, rejected the bail application of another accused, Sunya Chandra Dash.
The brutal killing of Pitabas Panda on October 6, 2025, had sent shockwaves across Odisha’s legal fraternity.
Police investigation revealed that Panda was allegedly shot dead by assailants Kurupati Bhuyan and Chintu Pradhan, who fled towards Bhubaneswar after abandoning their motorcycle near a shop. The probe further linked several individuals, including former MLA Bikram Kumar Panda, to the conspiracy with a total of 16 accused named in the case.
Rajendra Sahu’s alleged role was tied to stealing the motorcycle used in the murder, which police considered an attempt to destroy evidence. However, during the bail hearing, Sahu’s lawyer Chakrapani Nahak argued that his client had no direct involvement in the killing itself, only stole the motorcycle and was being falsely implicated. Nahak stressed that Sahu’s actions did not amount to participation in the murder conspiracy and urged the court to consider his limited role.
The court, after hearing arguments, granted bail to Sahu under strict conditions, marking the first instance of judicial relief in the case. Meanwhile, bail pleas of other key accused, including political figures and associates, have been consistently rejected, reflecting the gravity of the charges.
