New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The troubles of senior Odisha cadre IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi have deepened as the Supreme Court of India on Monday rejected his anticipatory bail plea, paving the way for his possible arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with a high-profile bribery case.
This decision comes shortly after the Orissa High Court also denied Sethi’s bail request in the same matter. The IAS officer, currently under the scanner for alleged links to corruption involving Bridge and Roof Company Limited, may now be arrested by the investigating agency.
CBI Raids and Cash Seizure Intensify Suspicion
Sethi came under scrutiny following CBI raids on February 18, 2025, at his official residence in Bhubaneswar and ancestral home. An eight-member CBI team from New Delhi conducted simultaneous searches as part of its probe into an alleged bribery deal involving top executives from infrastructure firms.
During the raids, ₹10 lakh in cash was recovered from a car near a hotel in Bhubaneswar, where the alleged bribery exchange reportedly took place.
Arrests Made in Connection with the Case
The CBI has already arrested key accused individuals in the case, including:
- Chanchal Mukherjee, General Manager of Bridge and Roof Company Limited
- Debadatta Mahapatra, owner of Aditya Dev Infratech Pvt. Ltd
- Santosh Maharana, Director of Penta A Studio Pvt. Ltd
These arrests have bolstered the agency’s case against Sethi, who is suspected to have had a role in facilitating or benefiting from the illegal transactions.
No Comment from CBI or IAS Officer
So far, there has been no official statement from either the CBI or Bishnupada Sethi regarding the court’s decision or the ongoing investigation. Sources close to the agency indicate that substantial evidence has been collected, strengthening the case for arrest and possible prosecution.
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Background: IAS Officer Under the Scanner
Bishnupada Sethi, a senior bureaucrat with a long-standing administrative record in Odisha, is being investigated for his alleged links to irregular contracts and financial misconduct involving a public sector infrastructure firm. His possible involvement came to light during the CBI’s wider probe into corruption in government-linked contracts.
The apex court’s dismissal of his plea reflects the judiciary’s confidence in the CBI’s preliminary findings, and signals that the officer may soon be taken into custody if sufficient grounds are established.
