The Orissa High Court on Monday extended interim protection for senior IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi (1995-batch IAS officer) till May 5 in connection with an alleged bribery case involving Bridge and Roof Company (India) Limited, a Government of India enterprise.
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According to Mr. Sethi’s lawyer, Mr. Debasish Kumar Panda, the High Court has also extended interim protection to the IAS officer’s wife and daughter.
The case originated on December 8, when Mr. Chanchal Mukherjee, Group General Manager of Bridge and Roof Company (India) Limited, was arrested in Bhubaneswar while allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹10 lakh from a real estate company in exchange for a work order. During CBI interrogation, he reportedly named Mr. Sethi, bringing him under the central agency’s scanner.
Following this, the CBI summoned Mr. Sethi for questioning, and on February 18, an eight-member CBI team raided his official quarters in Bhubaneswar. However, a dispute arose between the IAS officer and CBI officials during the raid.
Mr. Sethi has denied any involvement, asserting that he has no association with Mr. Mukherjee or Bridge and Roof Company (India) Limited, and has never received any favours from them. He also stated that no FIR has been registered against him.
On February 24, Mr. Sethi approached the Orissa High Court, alleging that the CBI was harassing him and his family members, prompting the court to intervene.
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