Berhampur, Jan 8: BJP MP from Berhampur, Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy was acquitted in three more job scam cases by a special court in Odisha's Ganjam district on Wednesday.

The Court of JMFC (Rural), Berhampur acquitted Panigrahy in the three cheating cases under Golanthara police station today while a special court for MPs and MLAs had acquitted him in two job fraud cases yesterday.

On Tuesday, the court also acquitted former IFS officer Abhay Pathak and his son Akash Pathak who were the co-accused in one of the two cases against Panigrahy.

The judge of the special MP/MLA court acquitted them due to the lack of evidence, said the MP's counsel Deepak Patnaik.

In 2021, a complaint led to a case against Panigrahy, Pathak, and his son at Baidyanathpur police station. The complainant alleged he paid Rs 6 lakh to the then Gopalpur MLA for securing a job for his son in an automobile company. Another case was filed at Golanthara police station when a man claimed he gave Rs 5 lakh to Panigrahy for his brother's employment.

Panigrahy, a three-time MLA and a former Minister, was arrested by Crime Branch police on Dec 3, 2020, for his alleged involvement in the job scam. Before he was arrested, Panigrahy was expelled from BJD.

Ahead of the 2024 elections, Panigrahy joined the BJP and successfully contested from the Berhampur Lok Sabha seat. The acquittal marks a significant development in his legal battles as he continues his political journey with the BJP.

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