Bhubaneswar, Sept. 1 -- Berhampur MLA and BJD's Ganjam unit president Bikram Panda was granted bail on Monday by Orissa High Court in the murder case of senior advocate and BJP leader Pitabas Panda. The court's order came with a strong observation on the procedure followed by police while arresting him.

Justice Aditya Kumar Mohapatra directed that Panda be released, while making it clear that the court's finding on his arrest would not affect the chargesheet or the ongoing trial in the case.

According to The Times Of India, the court took note of the lapses in following the mandatory safeguards prescribed under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.

Justice Mohapatra found that the arresting officer had not complied with ...