JAGATSINGHPUR: Congress leader Bapi Sarkhel, who is in Allipingal jail in connection with the SSL Manager Mahendra Swain’s murder, was shifted to Choudwar jail for security reasons on Friday.
Sarkhel, also a trade union leader, was arrested by Paradip police on November 18. He was first taken to Paradip police station for questioning.
Police registered a case under Sections 302, 120 (B), 34 of IPC after interrogation of Rakesh Choubey, main accused in the murder case. Choubey and Sarkhel are reportedly close associates.
After his arrest, Sarkhel was produced in JMFC, Kujang which sent him to 14-day judicial custody after rejecting his bail plea. He was sent to Kujang jail and the next day shifted to Allipingal jail on security ground. Later, Sarkhel had appealed before the District and Sessions Judge, Jagatsinghpur for bail but his plea was rejected recently. The court has asked Paradip police to submit the case diary as soon as possible and deferred the hearing on bail till December 26.