Bhubaneswar, Oct. 23 -- Biju Janata Dal leader Lenin Mohanty on Thursday accused the Odisha government of defaming the party after a former BJD MLA, Bikram Panda, was arrested in the murder case of BJP leader Pitabas Panda yesterday.

Mohanty stated that the arrest is influenced by political pressure from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the government of Mohan Charan Majhi.

"Advocate Pitabas died under mysterious circumstances. The person arrested yesterday, Bikram Panda, is alleged to have been politically motivated and arbitrary, aimed at defaming the Biju Janata Dal. The arrest is being influenced by political pressure from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Mohan Charan Majhi government. In Odisha, this incident is being...