The Orissa High Court dropped contempt proceedings against Berhampur Superintendent of Police Saravana Vivek M after he appeared in person and submitted an unconditional apology for his remarks on the Pitabas Panda murder case.

Consequently, the court accepted his affidavit and noted that he did not intend to interfere with judicial matters.

Earlier, Justice Sashikanta Mishra had issued a notice to the SP and directed him to explain his comments made during an October 22 press briefing. During that briefing, the officer publicly linked the murder of senior advocate Pitabas Panda to an election petition pending before the High Court. Furthermore, his remarks came soon after police arrested several accused in the murder investigation.

Meanwhile, the case involves a petition filed by voter

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