Odisha High Court Denies Anticipatory Bail for IAS Officer Bishnupada Sethi
The latest development in the ongoing investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against senior IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi has seen the rejection of his anticipatory bail plea by the Supreme Court of India on August 4, 2025. This decision follows an earlier rejection by the High Court of Orissa.
The CBI initiated a day-long search at Sethi's official residence in Bhubaneswar on February 18, 2025, as part of the investigation into alleged irregularities involving the Bridge and Roof Company Limited, a Union government's public sector undertaking (PSU). During the search, the CBI reportedly recovered Rs 10 lakh in cash from a car near a hotel in Bhubaneswar, where the alleged bribery exchange occurred.
The CBI alleges that Sethi, who was heading the SC/ST department of Odisha at the time, instructed a bribe transfer of Rs 10 lakh via a middleman, Debadutta Mohapatra, to Chanchal Mukherjee from Bridge and Roof Company. Mohapatra was arrested, and Mukherjee has also been arrested as part of the case. It is further alleged that Sethi's daughter received expensive gifts as bribes in August 2024 from Mohapatra, including an Apple MacBook and a luxury watch worth Rs 1.46 lakh.
After the raids, Sethi wrote an open letter alleging harassment by the CBI but has nonetheless cooperated with the investigation. An RTI activist has formally requested the CBI to proceed with Sethi's immediate arrest following the Supreme Court's order.
The judiciary’s rejection of bail signifies strong confidence in the CBI’s preliminary findings, indicating that the CBI expects to proceed with arrest and custodial interrogation soon. The court's decision to deny Sethi anticipatory bail could serve as a precedent in other high-profile corruption cases involving senior public officials.
The CBI has not issued an official statement on the High Court's ruling. However, the investigation is expected to accelerate following the rejection of Sethi's anticipatory bail plea. The CBI's inquiry into the alleged bribery case involving Sethi is ongoing, and further updates are anticipated.
[1] The Indian Express, "CBI seizes Rs 10 lakh cash during raid at Sethi's residence," February 18, 2025. [2] The Times of India, "CBI arrests Debadutta Mohapatra in Rs 10 lakh bribery case," February 19, 2025. [3] The Hindu, "CBI questions Sethi in Rs 10 lakh bribery case," February 19, 2025. [4] The Telegraph, "RTI activist demands immediate arrest of Sethi," August 5, 2025. [5] The New Indian Express, "Supreme Court rejects Sethi's anticipatory bail plea," August 4, 2025.
[1] In light of the Supreme Court's rejection of his anticipatory bail plea, the ongoing investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged bribery case involving senior IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi seems set to take a significant turn towards arrest and custodial interrogation, potentially serving as a precedent in future high-profile corruption cases involving senior public officials.
[2] Meanwhile, the rejection of Sethi's bail by both the Supreme Court of India and the High Court of Orissa on August 4, 2025, and the recently accelerated investigation, promise to bring more general-news and crime-and-justice updates regarding the current case in the forefront of political discussions.
