Brahmapur: Former MLA Bikram Panda was questioned again Friday at Gosan inuagaon police station over allegations of issuing threats to a witness in advocate Pitabas Panda’s murder case from inside jail. Panda appeared with his lawyer in response to a police notice.
Inspector Pratap Das questioned him about his alleged involvement and his statement was videographed. Police said he could be summoned again if required. According to the complaint, Panda and co-accused Madan Dalai allegedly used jail doctor Sushant Kumar Panigrahi’s mobile phone August 28 to threaten advocate Lalit Mohan Mangaraj, a witness in the murder case, against testifying.
Police registered a case following Mangaraj’s complaint. Panigrahi reportedly admitted that the two accused had used his phone, which was later seized. Police also collected jail CCTV footage and call records. Panda, who was jailed in connection with the murder case, was released on conditional bail September 1 following a High Court order. He was earlier questioned for about four hours October 6.
