Berhampur: The high profile Pitabas Panda murder case in Odisha took another twist after prime accused Bikram Panda’s lawyer on Thursday alleged that crucial evidence was not produced before the court though the chargesheet mentioned about it.
Bikram Panda’s counsel Deepak Pattanayak questioned the absence of some “objectionable photos” reportedly linked to Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and former MLA Bikram Panda, who is among those arrested in connection with the killing.
Police had reportedly recovered from a sacred thread worn by Pitabas Panda during the investigation of his murder. The chargesheet in the case mentions a secret chamber was opened in Pitabas’s house in the presence of the deceased’s family including his wife Sushmita and recovered a pen drive which allegedly contained photos of prime accused Bikram Panda in a compromising position. It with a woman. It was claimed that the objectionable photo was used to blackmail Bikram Panda. This is being cited as the alleged motive for t
he gruesome murder.
Speaking to a news channel, Bikram Panda’a lawyer Pattnayak alleged, “If the chargesheet refers to objectionable photos, then why have they not been placed before the court? Their absence creates suspicion about whether such evidence even exists.”
The lawyer maintained that without these photos, the prosecution’s claims remain unsubstantiated, weakening the case against Bikram Panda. He stated that he had filed a petition demanding this disclosure. He refuted all allegations against his client Bikram calling them politically motivated and instead attributed sand mining and liquor scams as the real reasons for the murder.
Meanwhile, Pitabas Panda’s brother told the media that the police had seized several articles, including a pen drive and other items from the locker in their house during investigation in the murder case. Subsequently, police returned the articles, including the pen drive. While checking the articles, some objectionable photographs were found from the pen drive, he claimed, adding that the family had no knowledge about the photos earlier.
It may be recalled that senior advocate Pitabas Panda who was shot dead from point blank range by masked assailants near his residence in Berhampur on October 6, 2025. Police later arrested 12 individuals, including Bikram Panda, alleging his involvement in the conspiracy, citing political rivalry as a possible motive.