IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No. 6884 of 2025 Sk. Firoz …. Petitioner Mr. S.P. Dash, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha …. Opposite Party Mr. S. Panigrahi, ASC CORAM: JUSTICE V. NARASINGH Order No. ORDER 20.06.2025 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 C.T. Case No.388 of 2023 pending on the file of learned S.D.J.M., Karanjia, arising out of Karanjia P.S. Case No.235 of 2023 for commission of offences punishable under Sections 457/380 of IPC. 3. Learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that the co-accused have since been released on anticipatory bail by order dated 21.09.2023 in ABLAPL Nos.9298 of 2023 & 9332 of 2023 and by order dated 04.11.2024 in ABLAPL No.11908 of 2024. Hence, the Petitioner may be protected by pre-arrest bail inter alia on the ground of parity. 4. Learned counsel for the State opposes the prayer for anticipatory bail. 5. Taking into account the nature of allegation, the punishment prescribed and release of the co- accused as noted, 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 subject to verification of criminal antecedent of similar nature. 6. If it comes to the fore that the Petitioner has any such criminal antecedent, this order shall not be given effect to. 7. Before releasing the learned Court shall verify as to whether order of this Court has been assailed before the Apex Court and if so, the result thereof. 8. It is needless to state that the Petitioner shall cooperate with the ongoing investigation. 9. Accordingly, the ABLAPL stands disposed of. (V. NARASINGH) Judge Ayesha