Berhampur advocate murder case: Chargesheet filed against 16 accused including former MLA

Berhampur: Around three months after senior advocate and BJP supporter Pitabash Panda was murdered here, Berhampur police on Sunday filed an over 1,660-page chargesheet, containing all supporting documents against 16 accused, including former MLA (Berhampur) and BJD member Bikram Kumar Panda, in a local court.

Police carried the documents in a trunk to submit before the sub-divisional judicial magistrate (SDJM) court.


“The preliminary charge-sheet has every detail of evidences collected so far in connection with the murder case,” said SP (Berhampur) Saravana Vivek M. He said the statement of 122 people have been recorded, while footage of several CCTVs have been verified to gather evidences. The charge-sheet was filed before the stipulated 90 days, police said.

The accused include former mayor (Berhampur) Siva Shankar Das, BJD corporator Malaya Bisoyi, advocate Madan Mohan Dalei and close aides of the former MLA.

“Since investigation is going on, there are some others who are under the police radar. Their names will be included in supplementary chargesheets,” added the SP.

“The accused have been charged for murder, criminal conspiracy, organised crime, destruction of evidence, harbouring offenders and under various sections of the Arms Act,” said Priyas Ranjan Chhotray, DSP, Berhampur.

“Political, financial and business enmity were stated to be the motives for the murder,” he said.

Two motorcycle-borne miscreants had fired at Panda, also a member of the state Bar Council near his residence at Baikuntha Nagar here on Oct 6, 2025, night. Locals rushed him to MKCG Medical College and Hospital here, where doctors declared him dead.