The Orissa High Court on Tuesday extended its interim order preventing any “coercive action” against senior IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) until March 18. The protection was granted in connection with Sethi’s alleged links to a senior officer of a central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) who was arrested in a bribery case in December last year.
Bribery Case and CBI Investigation
The case dates back to December 8, when CBI officers arrested a group general manager of the PSU for allegedly accepting a Rs 10 lakh bribe from a real estate company in exchange for work orders. The official was caught red-handed while receiving the bribe from the company’s owner in Bhubaneswar.
During the interrogation of the arrested PSU officer, Sethi’s name surfaced, prompting the CBI to conduct searches at his official residence in Bhubaneswar on February 18.
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Legal Battle and Court Intervention
On February 24, Sethi, along with his wife and daughter, filed a petition in the High Court, alleging mental harassment by CBI officers. The court took up the petition the next day, and when the CBI’s counsel requested more time to file a response, Justice S.K. Panigrahi listed the matter for March 4 while granting interim protection to Sethi.
In his February 25 order, Justice Panigrahi stated, “As an interim measure, it is directed that no coercive action shall be taken against the petitioners till the next date.”
When the case was heard on Tuesday, the CBI submitted its response, following which the court granted time for the petitioners to file a rejoinder and scheduled the next hearing for March 18, while extending the interim protection for Sethi.
Sethi Denies Links to PSU
In his petition, Sethi asserted that Bridge and Roof Co Ltd, the PSU under investigation, had been working with the government for a decade, but he had no personal connection with the company. He further alleged that despite not being named in the FIR, the CBI searched his residence, seized his daughter’s laptop, and froze his wife’s bank account, causing undue distress to his family.
Sethi’s legal challenge underscores concerns over investigative overreach, as the High Court continues to evaluate the matter in the coming weeks.