Mahima
The Odisha High Court sought particulars of FIRs against Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy.
The division bench of Chief Justice S Murlidhar and Justice BP Routray issued notice to the state government while hearing Panigrahy’s petition.
Panigrahy has been in judicial custody since last five months after the CID-Crime branch arrested him in connection with job scam.
He was granted bail by the High Court around two months ago but continues to remain incarcerated in Bhubaneshwar’s Jharpada Jail in relation to other cases filed against him.
Panigrahy cited five different FIRs and asserted that he is being anguished for the same offences by institution of multiple similar FIRs which is curtailing his liberty.
Senior advocate Pitambar Acharya represented Panigrahy and argued, “The vulnerability of human rights assumes a traumatic torture when the functionaries of the State whose paramount duty is to protect the citizens is used to harass the petitioner and curtail his liberty.”
The petition also sought that all pending criminal proceedings instituted at multiple police stations should be transferred to an independent agency to guarantee a fair, impartial and proper investigation.
