Bhubaneswar: Former BJD MLA Bikram Panda appeared before Gosaninuagaon police for the third time on Tuesday in connection with the murder of advocate Pitabash Panda. Investigators reportedly questioned him over allegations that he had threatened a witness over the phone.
Panda, who had appeared before the police twice earlier in connection with the case, arrived at the police station along with his two lawyers and recorded his statement. Former jail doctor Sukanta Panigrahi also appeared before the police in connection with the murder case.
Speaking to the media after the questioning, Bikram Panda said he had appeared in response to a police notice and fully cooperated with the investigation.
“The police summoned me for the third time by serving a notice, and I appeared before them along with my two lawyers. I cooperated with the investigation and recorded my statement, answering all the questions put to me. I have disclosed the truth to the police and will continue to cooperate with the investigation. They have given me another date to appear in the coming days,” Panda said.
Denying the allegations of threatening or attempting to influence any witness, the former MLA termed them baseless.
“I have neither threatened nor attempted to lure or influence anyone. The allegations against me are completely baseless. During the period in question, I was in jail and under judicial custody. I was not a free person. Therefore, any conversations or incidents that may have taken place during that period would have been within the knowledge of the jail authorities,” he added.
Meanwhile, Panda’s advocate, Deepak Patnaik, questioned the procedure adopted by the police to obtain permission to collect his client’s voice sample.
Patnaik said the police had approached the court seeking permission to collect Bikram Panda’s voice sample. However, he pointed out that the police had already questioned his client twice and conducted an investigation before filing the chargesheet.
Police are continuing their investigation into the murder of advocate Pitabash Panda, examining various aspects of the case and questioning individuals suspected of having information about the incident.
