Berhampur, Dec 16: The Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADJ)-III court in Berhampur on Tuesday rejected the bail application of Bikram Panda, a former BJD legislator and prime accused in the murder case of senior lawyer and BJP leader Pitabas Panda.

The court also dismissed bail applications of four other accused in the case, according to sources.

Earlier, Panda’s lawyers, KK Behera and Deepak Patnaik, had approached the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court challenging the legality of his arrest, citing Articles 21 and 22 of the Constitution, which guarantee personal liberty and procedural safeguards. The petition claimed that mandatory arrest protocols were not followed.

The SDJM court hearing was deferred after government counsel requested additional time to respond. While the SDJM court is expected to rule on the arrest challenge, the ADJ-III court has rejected bail for Panda and the other accused.

Pitabas Panda, a prominent lawyer and BJP leader from Berhampur, was shot dead on October 6, prompting widespread attention in the region.

Police have seized two firearms from the accused and sent them to the State Forensic Science Laboratory in Bhubaneswar for ballistic examination, officials said. The tests are aimed at establishing the type of bullets used and the sequence of events in the killing.

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The accused will remain in judicial custody as the investigation continues, with further court proceedings expected in the coming days.