Orissa High Court Seeks Explanation from Senior Police Officer Over Alleged Contemptuous Remarks in Election Petition Case

Court Calls for Clarification on Public Comments by Berhampur S.P. Amidst Allegations of Police Misconduct in Election Dispute

In a significant development, the Orissa High Court has called upon the Superintendent of Police (S.P.) of Berhampur to provide an explanation regarding his public comments on an ongoing election petition. The remarks, made during a press conference, are perceived as potentially contemptuous by the court, as they pertain to a case currently under judicial consideration.

The case in question involves an election petition filed by Manoj Kumar Panda against the sitting MLA of Berhampur, K. Anil Kumar. The petitioner alleged police misconduct, claiming illegal detention and interrogation concerning the election petition. The court has directed that an affidavit detailing these allegations be kept on record.

The controversy intensified following a press conference on October 23, 2025, where the S.P. of Berhampur reportedly commented on the election petition's proceedings, linking it to an ongoing murder investigation. The officer's statements were published in the daily newspaper 'The Hindu', suggesting involvement of other individuals in the legal actions against the MLA.

The High Court, presided over by Justice Sashikanta Mishra, expressed concern over the conduct of the senior police officer, emphasizing that such public remarks could influence the judicial process and undermine the court's authority. The court has asked the S.P. to clarify the circumstances under which he made these statements and to explain why his conduct should not be considered contempt of court.

The S.P. has been given a deadline until November 7, 2025, to submit his explanation. The court has scheduled further proceedings for the same day to address this matter. This move underscores the judiciary's commitment to maintaining the sanctity of court proceedings and ensuring that external influences do not affect the judicial process.

The legal fraternity closely watches the outcome of this case, as it raises important questions about the role of law enforcement in election-related matters and the boundaries of public commentary by police officials on judicial proceedings.

Bottom Line:

Election Petition - Police conduct and statements related to ongoing election dispute - Court calls for explanation from Senior Police Officer for commenting publicly on election petition proceedings, deeming it potentially contemptuous.

Statutory provision(s): Representation of The People Act, 1951 Section 81, Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 Section 2(c)

Manoj Kumar Panda v. K. Anil Kumar, (Orissa) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2802846