HC Reserves Verdict on Bikram Panda Bail Plea in Pitabas Panda Murder Case

Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court on Wednesday concluded the final hearing on the bail application of former Berhampur MLA Bikram Kumar Panda in the murder case of senior advocate and BJP leader Pitabas Panda.

The hearing took place before a single-judge bench of Justice Aditya Kumar Mahapatra, who reserved the judgment after hearing detailed arguments from all parties.

During the proceedings, counsels for the applicant, the state government, and other accused presented their submissions. The state submitted the case diary and updated the court on the progress of the investigation, focusing on the alleged conspiracy behind the murder.

The applicant had earlier filed supporting documents, while the co-accused submitted an objection affidavit opposing the bail plea. Supreme Court judgments were also cited during the final arguments.

The court has allowed all parties to file written submissions, if any, by April 17.

Earlier, Bikram Panda had moved the High Court after his bail plea was rejected by a lower court in Berhampur.

The murder of Pitabas Panda had triggered widespread shock across Odisha. Bikram Panda, a former BJD MLA and Ganjam district president, is the prime accused in the case and was arrested along with others in late 2025.