Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court today concluded the final hearing on the bail application filed by former Berhampur MLA Bikram Kumar Panda in the sensational murder case of senior advocate and BJP leader Pitabas Panda.
The court reserved its judgment after detailed arguments from all sides.The hearing took place before a single-judge bench of Justice Aditya Kumar Mahapatra. Arguments were advanced by the counsel for the applicant Bikram Panda, the state government, and the other assailants named in the case.
During the proceedings, the state government submitted the case diary and updated the court on the current status of the investigation. The hearing particularly focused on the aspect of conspiracy behind the murder. The applicant had earlier submitted certain documents, while the assailants filed an objection affidavit opposing the bail plea.
Today, precedents from Supreme Court judgments were cited, and all parties presented their final arguments. After hearing everyone, the High Court reserved its order on the bail application. The court allowed the parties to file written submissions, if any, by April 17.
It may be recalled that Bikram Panda had approached the Orissa High Court after his bail plea was rejected by the Additional District Judge’s Court in Berhampur.
The murder of Pitabas Panda had sent shockwaves across Odisha. Bikram Panda, who was a BJD MLA and Ganjam district president, is the prime accused in the case. He was arrested along with several others in late 2025.
