Bhubaneswar, Oct 22: Berhampur police on Wednesday achieved a major breakthrough in the sensational murder case of senior advocate and BJP leader Pitabas Panda with the arrest of former MLA and Ganjam BJD president Bikram Panda for allegedly plotting the conspiracy behind the killing.

According to Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M, a total of 12 people have been arrested so far in connection with the case. The accused include former Berhampur Mayor Siba Shankar Das alias Pintu Das, corporator Malay Bisoi, student leader Madan Dalei, two sharpshooters, a local shooter, and a person who kept surveillance on the victim.

The SP revealed that the sharpshooter was paid an advance of ₹10 lakh. While Chintu Pradhan drove the vehicle, Kurupati Bhuyan fired the shots. The conspiracy was allegedly orchestrated by Malay Bisoi and Madan Dalei, while Bikram Panda and Pintu Das masterminded the plot. The two leaders had reportedly arranged ₹50 lakh to execute the murder.

Following their arrest, the accused were produced before a local court, which denied bail and remanded them to 14 days of judicial custody. Earlier, Bikram Panda had been interrogated at the Baidyanathpur police station regarding suspicious financial transactions linked to the case.

Notably, Pitabas Panda, a respected advocate and member of the Odisha State Bar Council, was shot dead on October 6 by two unidentified assailants near his residence under Baidyanathpur police limits. He succumbed to gunshot wounds before reaching MKCG Medical College and Hospital.

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