The Orissa High Court on Tuesday granted an interim protection to BJP leaders Golak Mohapatra and Bhrugu Baxipatra, who were asked to appear before the police in connection with the Chhatrapur BJD Councillor Laxmidutta Mohapatra murder case.
While asking the State Counsel to submit the case diary in the court, Justice Shatrughna Pujahari posted the matter for hearing again on March 19. Police were restrained from taking any coercive action against the two leaders, who were issued notices under Section 160 CrPC to assist the police in investigating into the murder case.
Notably, Mohapatra and Baxipatra were issued summons by the Ganjam police in January in connection with the September 2017 murder case of Councillor Laxmidutta Mohapatra. Terming the move as vendetta politics, the two leaders have approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bails.