Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court has expressed its dissatisfaction with Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M’s public remarks regarding an ongoing election case. The court has instructed the IPS officer to clarify the reasons behind his statements and to explain why this should not be regarded as contempt of court. Justice Sashikanta Mishra issued the directive on Friday, requiring the SP to respond by November 7, when the case will be revisited. The SP commented on an election petition currently before the High Court, connecting it to the murder of BJP leader and lawyer Pitabas Panda in Berhampur.
During a media briefing on October 22, he stated, “During the investigation, an election petition surfaced as a common link between Bikram Panda and Siba Shankar Dash. The petition was submitted on May 19, 2024, against sitting BJP MLA K Anil Kumar of Berhampur and was filed under the name of a helper at Siba Shankar Dash’s home, though it was actually filed by Dash himself. Bikram Panda was covering the legal and advocate fees for this petition.” The court remarked, “It is quite troubling that a senior officer like the SP would publicly address an election dispute currently under judicial review.
Senior legal representatives for both parties noted the availability of video footage of the press conference where the SP commented on the potential outcome of the election petition, which is completely inappropriate.” The court has deemed it necessary to request an explanation from the SP regarding the context and rationale for his comments about the election petition being heard in court and why his conduct should not be classified as contempt. The explanation must be submitted to the court by November 7, 2025, and the order will be communicated to the SP via email. This ruling follows an affidavit submitted by petitioner Manoj Kumar Panda, who alleged illegal detention and questioning by police concerning the petition.
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Panda is contesting the election of BJP MLA K Anil Kumar from the Berhampur Assembly constituency in 2024. The investigation into the murder of BJP leader and lawyer Pitabas Panda on October 6 revealed that an election petition linked former BJD MLA Bikram Panda and former Berhampur Municipal Corporation Mayor Siba Sankar Dash, also known as Pintu. Both have been arrested in connection with the murder. The SP had also claimed that Siba Shankar Dash is directly implicated in the murder of Pitabas Panda and that the election petition demonstrated the collaboration between Dash and Bikram Panda.
He further noted, “Their agreement was such that if the MLA was disqualified due to the petition, Bikram Panda would run for the Assembly seat in the by-election, and with his influence through corporators, he would assist in making Pintu the Mayor.”