Saroj Maharana v. State Of Odisha

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK

BLAPL No.7637 of 2022 Saroj Maharana ....

Petitioner Mr. G.M. Rath, Advocate -versusState of Odisha .... Opp .Party Mr. Arupananda Das, Addl. Government Advocate

CORAM:

JUSTICE S.K. SAHOO Order No.

ORDER

06.12.2022 04.

This matter is taken up through Hybrid arrangement (video conferencing/physical mode). Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the State.

This is an application under section 439 of Cr.P.C. in connection with Berhampur Sadar P.S. Case No.19 of 2020 corresponding to S.T. Case No.29 of 2021 pending in the Court of learned 1st Addl. Sessions Judge, Berhampur, Ganjam for offence punishable under section 302/34 of the Indian Penal Code.

The petitioner moved an application for bail before the Court of learned 1st Addl.

Sessions Judge,

// 2 // Berhampur, Ganjam, which was rejected on 20.07.2022. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner was taken into judicial custody in connection with this case on 23.01.2020 and earlier he was granted interim bail for a period of three months in BLAPL No. 5888 of 2021 as per order dated 31.03.2022 and after availing the same, he surrendered at right time and there is no allegation against him that he has misutilised the liberty in any manner while on interim bail. It is further submitted that till date no witness has yet been examined and in view of delayed disposal of the trial, the petitioner may be granted interim bail for some period.

Status report submitted by the learned trial Court dated 01.11.2022 indicates that there are total twenty four witnesses, who are yet to be examined.

Learned counsel for the State has no serious objection for grant of interim bail to the petitioner. Considering the submissions made by the learned counsel for the respective parties, conduct of the petitioner in complying with the earlier interim bail order, slow progress of trial and taking into account the period of detention of the petitioner in judicial custody, while not inclining to release the petitioner on bail on merit, I am inclined to release the petitioner on interim bail for a period of three months from the date of release. The

// 3 // petitioner shall surrender before the learned trial Court immediately on expiry of the three months period. For the above period, let the petitioner be released on interim bail in the aforesaid case on furnishing bail bond of Rs.50,000/- (rupees fifty thousand) with two local solvent sureties each for the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned Court in seisin over the matter with further terms and conditions as the learned Court may deem just and proper including the conditions that he shall not indulge in any criminal activities, shall not try to tamper with the prosecution evidence and shall appear before the learned trial Court on each date to which the case would be posted for trial during the interim bail period.

Violation of any of the terms and conditions shall entail cancellation of interim bail.

Accordingly, the BLAPL is disposed of.

Issue urgent certified copy as per Rules.

( S.K. Sahoo) Judge PKSahoo