Bikram Panda released on conditional bail by Orissa High Court

Former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Bikram Panda has been released from Brahmapur jail following the Orissa High Court granting him conditional bail in connection with the murder of BJP leader and advocate Pitabas Panda.

The High Court ruled that Panda's arrest was invalid due to procedural lapses, specifically noting that authorities failed to provide written grounds for the arrest. Justice Aditya Kumar Mohapatra emphasized that informing an arrestee of precise grounds is a mandatory constitutional requirement rather than a mere formality. The court observed that the state failed to provide documentary proof that written grounds were communicated to the arrestee or his relatives.

While the non-communication of grounds vitiates the arrest and entitles the individual to release, the court clarified that this does not invalidate the ongoing investigation or the merits of the pending trial. As part of his conditional bail, Panda must surrender his passport, cooperate with the investigation, and is restricted from leaving the state or influencing witnesses. The court also issued directives to the Home Department and the Director General of Police, Odisha, to ensure strict adherence to constitutional safeguards during arrests.