Brahmapur: Former Brahmapur MLA Bikram Kumar Panda found himself in fresh legal trouble after Gosaninuagaon police booked him for allegedly threatening and coercing a key prosecution witness in a high-profile murder case while lodged in judicial custody.
The formal complaint was filed by the witness following a series of intimidation tactics that allegedly began on August 28. Along with Panda, his accomplice Madan Dalai and Brahmapur Jail doctor Dr Sushant Panigrahi have been named in the case registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to police sources, Panda and Das visited Dr Panigrahi’s chamber inside the prison premises, where the doctor made a call to the witness using his personal mobile device. To evade CCTV coverage within the chamber, Panda reportedly stepped into an adjoining room using the phone to issue threats and offer bribes to force the witness into altering his testimony. The harassment escalated on September 1 when two unidentified individuals physically confronted and threatened the witness near the Khallikote Unit School ground area. Following this encounter, the witness submitted a complaint alongside audio recordings of the phone conversations to the authorities, seeking police protection due to mounting safety concerns.
In response, a senior officer-led police team conducted a detailed preliminary search of the jail premises and gathered extensive technical proof, call detail records (CDR), audio evidence, and CCTV footage that substantiated the claims.
Highlighting the preliminary findings, Brahmapur SP Saravana Vivek M. confirmed the development to the media: “A complaint was lodged alleging that a witness was being threatened and intimidated by former Berhampur MLA Bikram Panda. Following the complaint, an inquiry was initiated under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). During the investigation, technical evidence, audio/video proof, call records, and CCTV footage were gathered. It was revealed that calls were made using the jail doctor’s mobile number, involving the doctor and Bikram Panda. Based on the prime facie evidence, a case has been registered under relevant sections at the Gosaninuagaon police station, and further police investigation is underway.”
The fresh charges come shortly after Panda was released on conditional bail on September 1, having spent nearly ten months in custody following his arrest for his involvement in the October 6, 2025, murder of advocate and BJP leader Pitabas Panda. Under his court-mandated bail terms, Panda was strictly prohibited from harassing, threatening, or influencing any witnesses, making these new allegations a potential ground for immediate bail cancellation. A
Alongside ongoing police inquiries into how unauthorised mobile access was facilitated inside the prison, the SP said that they also plan to write to state administrators recommending strict departmental disciplinary action against Dr Panigrahi for enabling the prohibited phone usage.