Bhagaban Sahoo v. State Of Odisha

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK

CRLMC No.567 of 2022 Sri Bhagaban Sahoo ....

Petitioner Mr. R. Nayak, Advocate -versusState of Odisha ....

Opposite Party Mr. N. Moharana, Standing Counsel for Vigilance Department

CORAM:

JUSTICE B. P. ROUTRAY

ORDER

15.03.2022 Order No.

01.

1. Heard Mr. R. Nayak, learned counsel for the Petitioner and Mr. N. Moharana, Standing Counsel for Vigilance Department.

2. The offences involved in the present case are under Secs.7/13(1)(d)/13(2) of the P.C. Act, 1988.

3. The Petitioner is a Junior Engineer.

4. It is submitted that out of 13 witnesses only 7 witnesses have been examined till today and two witnesses have been declined and rest 4 witnesses including the I.O. are avoiding to attend the trial court. In the past one year, not a single witness could be produced by the prosecution.

5. Upon hearing learned counsel for the Petitioner and considering prevalent COVID pandemic, I do not see any merit in the present application for quashing of the criminal case.

6. Accordingly, the CRLMC is dismissed.

7. However, as prayed for by the Petitioner, learned trial court is directed to take steps for early conclusion of trial preferably by end of November, 2022.

( B.P. Routray) Judge B.K. Barik