Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Wednesday came down heavily on Berhampur Superintendent of Police (SP) Saravana Vivek M, accusing him of presenting a “web-series-style fabricated story” in the Pitabas Panda murder case, and questioned the state government’s silence even after the SP offered an unconditional apology before the High Court.
Addressing a presser at Congress Bhavan, senior spokesperson Sonali Sahu and spokesperson Bibhuti Bhushan Mahapatra alleged that the SP’s statements were “politically motivated” and part of a larger BJP–RSS–administrative nexus to influence Nuapada byelection and divert attention from the alleged links between the Chief Minister and the sand mafia. “Under BJP rule, there are bomb blasts in some places, and in others, officers narrate web-series scripts. The Berhampur SP presented an imaginary story without evidence, for which he was reprimanded by the High Court and forced to apologise.
This incident has brought shame to Odisha,” she said. Sahu further alleged that the BJP government wants to turn Odisha Police into RSS Police, claiming that the administration is suppressing facts and evidence to protect its interests. “Both SP Saravana Vivek M and CM Mohan Majhi, who holds the Home portfolio, are equally responsible,” she said, demanding the SP’s immediate transfer from Berhampur.
Spokesperson Mahapatra questioned why the government continues to retain Vivek M in such a key position. “Before the 2024 general elections, he was known as a loyalist of Naveen Patnaik. Despite a change in regime, he remains untouched. After apologising unconditionally, he has lost moral authority to continue as SP,” Mahapatra said.
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