Berhampur: Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy, MP (Berhampur), who faced cheating cases about four years ago, was acquitted in two out of five cases by a special designated court for MP-MLA here on Tuesday.
The court also acquitted Abhay Pathak, a former IFS officer, and his son Akash Pathak, who were co-accused in one of the two cases registered against Panigrahy.
The special judge of the designated court acquitted Panigrahy in one case and the trio in another case due to lack of evidence against them, said Deepak Patnaik, the lawyer of MP (Berhampur).
Police registered a cheating case against Panigrahy, Abhay Pathak, and his son in 2021 at Baidyanathpur police station when a police constable lodged a complaint against them, alleging he provided Rs 6 lakh to Panigrahy, the then MLA (Gopalpur), to get a job for his son in a company.
In another case, one L N Nayak also complained against Panigrahy at Golanthara police station, alleging he gave around Rs 5 lakh for his brother’s job in 2021. The court acquitted Panigrahy in both cases, said Patnaik.
Patnaik said hearing in another three cheating cases under Golanthara police station, pending against MP (Berhampur), is likely to be held on Wednesday in the local court.
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.
Before the last elections, he joined BJP and contested from Berhampur Lok Sabha seat on a saffron party ticket and was elected.