Bhubaneswar, June 25: Berhampur Police on Thursday filed the final chargesheet in the high-profile murder case of senior advocate and BJP leader Pitabas Panda, marking the completion of an extensive investigation that has remained under public scrutiny for several months.

According to official sources, the final chargesheet, comprising 396 pages, was submitted before the court along with 16 pen drives containing digital evidence collected during the investigation. The chargesheet was filed through the government pleader.

During the court proceedings, counsel representing former Berhampur MLA Bikram Kumar Panda sought a copy of the chargesheet. Advocate Deepak Pattnaik informed the court that a fresh discharge petition may be filed on behalf of his client in the coming days. The government pleader stated that the next hearing in the case has been scheduled for July 4.

So far, police have arrested 16 individuals in connection with the murder, including former BJD MLA Bikram Kumar Panda and former Berhampur Mayor Shiva Shankar Dash. Another accused, Rajendra Kumar Sahu, has been granted bail.

Pitabas Panda was shot dead by unidentified assailants near his residence at Baikunthanagar in Berhampur on the night of October 6 last year. The murder sparked widespread outrage and quickly became one of Odisha’s most closely watched criminal investigations.

During the probe, police conducted extensive inquiries and examined multiple leads before arresting several suspects, including prominent political figures. Sources said the final report contains witness statements, call detail records, forensic findings and digital evidence intended to establish the alleged conspiracy and execution of the crime.

The filing of the final chargesheet marks a significant milestone in the case as judicial proceedings move forward.

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