Bhubaneswar: Trouble continues to mount for IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi, as the Orissa High Court has rejected his anticipatory bail plea in a ₹10 lakh bribery case. The High Court, after reviewing the case diary submitted by the CBI, delivered its final verdict on Friday, denying Sethi protection from arrest, thereby increasing the likelihood of his detention.
Sethi is under the scanner in connection with a bribery case linked to Odisha Bridge and Roof Corporation. The CBI had earlier raided his residence after allegations surfaced of a ₹10 lakh bribe involving a ₹1.5 crore deal. Sethi had initially approached the High Court to quash the CBI raid, but his plea was dismissed on June 20.
To avoid arrest, the senior bureaucrat filed for anticipatory bail, which was once again denied by the High Court on Friday. The development intensifies the chances of his arrest in the high-profile corruption case.
The CBI, during its investigation, uncovered critical evidence of alleged bribery and corruption within the Bridge & Roof Construction Corporation Limited (B&R). On December 6, in a surprise raid near the Mayfair Hotel in Bhubaneswar, CBI officials intercepted a high-end car where the bribery transaction reportedly occurred.
Subsequent raids and interrogations led to the detention of three individuals: Chanchal Mukherjee, Head of B&R’s Odisha-West Bengal division; senior official Santosh Maharana; and well-known Odisha-based contractor Debadatta Mahapatra. The CBI also took them into 3-day and later 5-day custody for extensive interrogation.
During the remand period, the CBI reportedly gathered key information pointing to large-scale corruption, including rigging of tenders, financial irregularities amounting to several crores, and widespread bribery involving multiple senior officials. Evidence also suggested deep-rooted links between IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi and Chanchal Mukherjee.
The agency interrogated Sethi’s personal staff, including three drivers, a caretaker, and other office personnel. While the CBI summoned Sethi for questioning, he cited health issues and sent his lawyer instead, failing to appear in person at the CBI office.
Meanwhile, contractor Santosh Maharana collapsed during questioning and was admitted to Capital Hospital before being presented in court.
The case has exposed a web of corruption involving high-ranking officials and government contractors, raising serious concerns about transparency and accountability in public infrastructure projects. The CBI is likely to intensify its probe as more evidence continues to emerge.
