Odisha HC rejects anticipatory bail plea of DSP Pramod Panda

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Dec 15:

The Odisha High Court today rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Crime Branch Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Pramod Panda, who had moved the court apprehending arrest in connection with the chit fund scam.

The High Court had completed hearing in the matter and had kept its judgment reserved.

During a raid on November 18, the CBI had seized some incriminating documents, including the charge sheet filed against Jagabandhu Panda, from the residence of Pramod Panda, who is a DSP in Crime Branch, in Bhadrak.

On December 12, the CBI took Jagabandhu on nine-day remand for questioning. The CBI is trying to find out the link between the DSP and the chit fund accused.

Pramod, who was suspended in February, is currently posted in Nayagarh following revocation of his suspension.

Pramod had allegedly threatened chit fund scam petitioner Alok Jena whose PIL in the apex court led to the CBI taking over the probe, in New Delhi and that too within the premises of the Supreme Court. Jena has filed two FIRs while his wife had filed one against Panda for trespass, unauthorized surveillance and criminal intimidation.

Notably, Crime Branch was the agency that was investigating the chit fund before the CBI took over the probe under Supreme Court orders in May this year.

CBI has got some definite clues about AT group funds having been diverted to an account of a computer centre in the city which was run by Pramod’s close aide, an official of CBI informed.

The central investigating agency may summon Pramod Panda for interrogation in connection with his alleged links with the AT group and Jagabandhu.

The central probing agency also suspects that the chit fund accused diverted money to the account of a relative of the DSP. The police officer’s relative runs a computer appliances store in Bhadrak.