The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Orissa government to file its response on a petition accusing the state of shielding top IPS officer Bidya Bhushan Mohanty, evading arrest in connection with the escape of his son Bitti Mohanty, convicted for the rape of a German national.

A bench comprising Justices C K Thakker and Dalveer Bhandari granted two weeks time to the state government to file its reply on the special leave petition filed by the Rajasthan government, accusing the Orissa DGP and the state Home Secretary of not extending any cooperation in arresting the IPS officer against whom an NBW had been issued by a Jaipur court.

BB Mohanty, who holds the rank of director general of police with the Orissa police, has been evading arrest since May 28, 2007 after the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jaipur, issued an NBW against him on June 8.

The NBW was issued after the IPS officer failed to explain the escape of his son Bitti, whose release on parole from a Rajasthan prison, was facilitated by him on a surety.