p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No.7447 of 2025 Sanjib Kumar Pradhan …. Petitioner Mr. C. Mishra, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha …. Opposite Party Mr. S. Panigrahi, ASC CORAM: JUSTICE V. NARASINGH Order No. ORDER 04.07.2025 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.1084 of 2025 pending in the Court of learned S.D.J.M., Kendrapara, arising out of Kendrapara Sadar P.S. Case No.254 of 2025 for commission of offence punishable under Sections 296,351(2),3(5),79/3(5) of BNS and 66(E)/67/67(A) of I.T Act. 3. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the Petitioner that no specific overt act is attributed to the Petitioner only because he is owner-editorial of the news channel, he has been arrayed as an accused and p. 2 the principal accused is one of the reporter i.e. one Janmejaya Biswal. 4. Such submission is opposed by the learned counsel for the State and it is submitted that the Petitioner being a owner-cum-editor is equally responsible for the content of channel. Hence, taking into account, no leniency ought to be shown. 5. This Court perused the statement of the victim recorded under Section 183 of the BNSS. 6. Taking note of the same and nature of allegations and that the Petitioner is apart from the owner also the editor, this Court is not inclined to entertain the application for pre-arrest bail. However, it is directed that the Petitioner may surrender before the learned S.D.J.M., Kendrapara in connection with the aforementioned case within one month from today. In the event of his surrender and motion for bail, the same be considered by the learned S.D.J.M., Kendrapara on merits, in the first hour of the day. In the event of rejection of the prayer for bail by the learned S.D.J.M., Kendrapara, the Petitioner is at liberty to move the higher forum for bail in the second hour on the same day. Page 3 of 3 7. On being so moved, the higher forum shall make an endeavour to dispose of the bail application of the Petitioner on the same day on merit in accordance with law. In the event, the case diary be made available to the concerned courts to facilitate disposal of the bail application of the Petitioner and learned J S.D.J.M., Kendrapara is called upon to transmit the case record to the higher forum at the earliest in the event of rejection of such bail application. Ground of Parity, if any, may be considered by the learned court (s) below. 8. Accordingly, the ABLAPL stands disposed of. 9. U.C.C. as per rules. (V. NARASINGH) Judge Soumya Designation: Jr. Stenographer