Trouble has intensified for senior IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi after the Orissa High Court on Friday dismissed his petition challenging a CBI raid on his Bhubaneswar residence. The search was conducted in connection with an alleged ₹10 lakh bribery case tied to Bridge and Roof Company (India) Limited, a central public sector undertaking.
Sethi had approached the court seeking a stay on further action by the CBI. While the court had initially granted him interim protection, it has now lifted the protection and rejected his petition, paving the way for the central agency to continue its probe.
16-Hour Raid and Questioning by CBI
In February 2025, CBI officials carried out a 16-hour-long search at Sethi’s official residence in Bhubaneswar. During the operation, Sethi was reportedly questioned by the CBI team regarding his alleged involvement in the bribery case.
Despite the extensive investigation, Sethi has maintained his innocence, stating:
“No FIR was filed against me. I don’t know anything about the raid. I have no connection with Chanchal Mukherjee. I haven’t received any favour from Bridge and Roof Company (India) Limited.”
He further explained that Chanchal Mukherjee, one of the key accused in the case, had frequent access to the State Secretariat due to his past roles in various government departments.
Bribery Case Background: Arrest of B&R Group GM
The bribery case is centered around Chanchal Mukherjee, Group General Manager of Bridge and Roof Company (India) Limited, who was arrested by the CBI on December 7, 2024, near a luxury hotel in Jayadev Vihar, Bhubaneswar.
Mukherjee was allegedly caught receiving a ₹10 lakh bribe from Santosh Moharana, director of Bhubaneswar-based Penta A Studio Private Ltd, and Debadutta Mohapatra, who is believed to have acted as a middleman.
Following his arrest, the CBI launched a wider investigation into the network of officials and intermediaries possibly linked to the bribery chain—an inquiry that has now brought IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi under scrutiny.
Next Steps in the Investigation
With the High Court’s dismissal of Sethi’s petition, the CBI is expected to intensify its probe, including further questioning of the senior bureaucrat. Legal experts say that while Sethi has not yet been named in an FIR, the case remains dynamic and further developments are likely as evidence is evaluated.
The central agency has not commented officially on the High Court ruling, but sources indicate that the investigation is “active and progressing.”
