IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No. 1935 of 2026 Tikina Parida & others …. Petitioners Mr. A.C. Behera, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha …. Opposite Party Mr. S.K.Brahma, ASC CORAM: MR. JUSTICE R.K. PATTANAIK Order No. ORDER 22.04.2026 02. 1. Heard learned counsel for the respective parties. 2. Instant petition under Section 482 BNSS is filed seeking pre-arrest bail of the petitioner in connection with Chandrasekharpur P.S. Case No.882 of 2025 pending in the file of learned JMFC-II, Bhubaneswar, Khordha corresponding to C.T. Case No.2359 of 2025 on the grounds stated. 3. Perused the F.I.R. as at Annexure-1. It is alleged that the petitioners committed the mischief and deliberately burnt a sacred Hindu Religious Scripture, namely, Manusmriti and uploaded the videos and images and viral the same through social media platforms, hence, the report lodged by the members of the Utkal Hindu Parishad. It is submitted to the Court by Mr. Behera, learned counsel for the petitioners that the petitioners are first-time offenders as they never committed such mischief earlier. It is informed to the Court that the petitioners are having other antecedents but not similar in nature. Recorded the serious objection of Mr. Brahma, learned ASC for the State opposing the bail plea of the petitioners on the ground that the alleged mischief has hurt religious sentiments of the Hindu Community. But for the reason that the petitioners are first-timers and did the mischief in the manner described in the F.I.R. and did that as members of a group ‘Jai Bheem’, this Court is of the view that they are not entitled to pre-arrest bail but instead should be allowed to surrender before the learned for being released with stringent conditions. 4. Accordingly, it is ordered. 5. In the result, the ABLAPL is disposed of with the direction as aforesaid. In the event, the petitioners surrender before the court of learned JMFC-II, Bhubaneswar, Khordha within a fortnight from today, it is directed that they shall be released on bail in connection with Chandrasekharpur P.S. Case No.882 of 2025 corresponding to C.T. Case No.2359 of 2025 on furnishing a bail bond of Rs.20,000/-(rupees twenty thousand) each with one solvent surety for the like amount each with other conditions besides the following, such as, they shall furnish an undertaking at the local P.S. not to commit similar mischief in future and also to cooperate the I.O. in the investigation as and when called upon. 6. Issue urgent certified copy of this order as per rules. (R.K. Pattanaik) Judge kabita