Orissa HC Rejects Anticipatory Bail Plea of IAS Officer Bishnupada Sethi

Bhubaneswar: In a significant development in the ongoing CBI probe into a high-profile bribery case, the Orissa High Court on Monday dismissed the anticipatory bail petition filed by senior IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi. The ruling was delivered by Justice V. Narasingh, who had earlier reserved the verdict on July 18.

Sethi had sought protection from arrest in connection with the bribery investigation involving senior officials of the Bridge and Roof Company (India) Limited and private contractors. However, the court rejected his plea, clearing the way for further action by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The case dates back to December 2024, when the CBI seized ₹10 lakh in cash from a luxury vehicle in Bhubaneswar. Chanchal Mukherjee, Group General Manager of Bridge and Roof Company, was arrested on the spot for allegedly accepting a bribe from the director of a Bhubaneswar-based private firm.

As the investigation progressed, two more individuals—Debadutta Mohapatra and Santosh Moharana—were arrested for allegedly facilitating the bribe. The probe soon widened, and the name of Bishnupada Sethi surfaced, prompting a CBI raid on his official residence in February 2025.

Although Sethi has not been named in the FIR, he was summoned by the CBI for questioning over his alleged links to the accused. The IAS officer has publicly denied any involvement in the bribery case.

The dismissal of his anticipatory bail plea is being seen as a crucial turning point in the ongoing investigation, which continues to unravel a network of alleged corruption involving public officials and private contractors.