Corruption
Arrest Warrant Issued Against This IAS Officer – Here’s Everything You Need to Know
A court in Odisha’s Malkangiri district has issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against IAS officer Manish Agarwal for failing to appear in a case linked to the mysterious death of his personal assistant during his tenure as district collector in 2019.
The Malkangiri Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court issued the warrant while hearing the case related to the death of Deba Narayan Panda, who served as Agarwal’s PA. In its February 1 order, the court stated that while an accused may seek exemption from personal attendance, it cannot be claimed as a right. Under the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, an accused’s first appearance must be physical, it observed.
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“The accused must first present himself before this court and then apply for any exemption before the trial court,” the judge ruled. The court further stated that it is the accused’s duty to appear in person, introduce legal representation, establish identity, and then seek any relief.
The SDJM court set February 28 as the deadline for executing the NBW and producing the accused.
The case dates back to December 27, 2019, when Panda went missing. His body was found in Satiguda Dam the next day. His wife, Banja Panda, alleged he was murdered and filed a complaint. The case is currently under trial. Agarwal, who was later transferred, now serves as an additional secretary in the Planning and Convergence Department.
