Berhampur: Police on Thursday filed the final chargesheet in the murder case of senior advocate and BJP leader Pitabas Panda. The case is one of the most high-profile criminal investigations in Odisha.
The chargesheet contains 396 pages. It was submitted in court through the government pleader. Police also placed 16 pen drives with digital evidence.
Officials said this marks the completion of the investigation. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for July 4.
During the court proceedings, the defence counsel for former MLA Bikram Kumar Panda requested a copy of the chargesheet. The defence may file a discharge petition again in the coming days.
A total of 16 people have been arrested in the case. This includes former MLA Bikram Kumar Panda and former Berhampur Mayor Shiva Shankar Dash. Bail has already been granted to one of the accused.
Pitabas Panda was shot dead near his home in Berhampur on October 6 last year. The incident had created shock and anger across the region.
Earlier, police had submitted a massive chargesheet running nearly 30,000 pages. The final filing now completes the probe.
The report includes witness statements, call records, and forensic findings. These form the key evidence in the case.
The matter will now move ahead in court for trial proceedings.