IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No. 1749 of 2025 Jitendra Kumar Sahoo …. Petitioner Mr. D. Ray, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha …. Opposite Party Mr. S. Panigrahi, ASC CORAM: JUSTICE V. NARASINGH Order No. ORDER 20.02.2025 01. 1. Heard learned counsel for the Petitioner and learned counsel for the State. 2. The Petitioner is seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with G.R. Case No.220 of 2025 pending on the file of learned S.D.J.M., Keonjhar, arising out of Ghatagaon P.S. Case No.60 of 2025 for commission of offences punishable under Sections 78/351(2) of BNS. 3. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the Petitioner that to prevent the Petitioner to effectively defend the stand in Matrimonial Suit No.67 of 2023 on the file of learned Civil Judge (Senior Division), Anandapur, in which the daughter of the informant has been arrayed as respondent, the present FIR his been filed. Hence, he may be protected by pre-arrest bail. 4. Learned counsel for the State opposes such prayer and submits that offence prima facie is well made and since investigation is at a nascent stage, the Petitioner ought not to be protected by pre- arrest bail. 5. Taking into account the background in which the FIR has been instituted, this Court directs that on surrendering within three weeks hence and moving for bail, the Petitioner shall be released on bail by the learned Court in seisin on such terms as deemed just and proper. 6. It is needless to state that the Petitioner shall cooperate with the ongoing investigation. 7. Accordingly, the ABLAPL stands disposed of. 8. Urgent certified copy of this order be granted as per rules. (V. NARASINGH) Judge Santoshi Designation: Senior Stenographer