Police file chargesheet in Pitabas Panda murder case

Berhampur: Police on Thursday filed the final chargesheet in the murder of Pitabash Panda, a senior advocate and BJP supporter before the sub-divisional judicial magistrate (SDJM) court here, around nine months after the incident. The over 390-page chargesheet and supporting documents are against 16 accused, including former MLA (Berhampur) and BJD’s Ganjam district unit president Bikram Panda, former Berhampur mayor Siva Shankar Das, BJD corporator Malay Bisoi.

All accused have been arrested.Police also filed the documents in a pen drive for the accused. “We are yet to get a copy of the final chargesheet. We will take further steps after going through it,” said Deepak Patnaik, one of the advocates of the former MLA.On Jan 4, police filed over a 1,660-page preliminary chargesheet in court in the murder that took place on Oct 6, last year. “We have filed the final chargesheet. If required, we will investigate the case further after getting permission from the trial court,” said a senior police officer.Police pressed charges of murder, criminal conspiracy, organized crime, destruction of evidence, harboring offenders and various sections under the Arms Act against the accused, said police.Two motorcycle-borne miscreants fired at Pitabash near his residence at Baikuntha Nagar under BaidyanathPur police station. Local people rushed him to MKCG Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.