p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No.13802 of 2025 Rakesh Kumar Sahoo …. Petitioner Ms. T. Sahu, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha …. Opposite Party Mr. S. Panda, ASC CORAM: MR. JUSTICE R.K. PATTANAIK Order No. ORDER 25.02.2026 03. 1. Heard learned counsel for the respective parties. 2. Instant petition has been filed under Section 482 BNSS by the petitioner seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with Capital P.S. Case No.74 of 2022 corresponding to C.T. Case No.790 of 2022 pending in the court of learned S.D.J.M., Bhubaneswar on the grounds stated. 3. From the FIR as at Annexure-1. It is alleged therein that the petitioner’s admit card, which was issued in connection with an examination to be held in the year, 2021 was tampered with. It has been alleged that two of the candidates appearing the preliminary examination, manipulated/edited by altering roll numbers in the admit cards and the petitioner was one among them. The investigation is still underway as informed to the Court. The alleged incident is of the year 2022 and in the meantime, nearly four years have gone by. No one has been arrested yet as informed. It is further informed to the Court that the petitioner has been debarred from appearing the p. 2 examination by a decision of the Odisha Staff Selection Commission, a copy of which is at Annexure-6. Considering the above facts and submissions of learned counsel for the respective parties and as there has been no arrest caused in the last four years, this Court is of the view that though a case for pre-arrest bail is not made out but the petitioner should be directed to surrender before the learned court below for being released with suitable conditions. 4. Accordingly, it is ordered. 5. In the result, the ABLAPL petition stands disposed of with a direction to the petitioner to surrender before learned S.D.J.M., Bhubaneswar within a fortnight from today and in the event, he surrenders in compliance thereof, shall be released on bail in connection with C.T. Case No.790 of 2022 on furnishing a bail bond of Rs.30,000/- (rupees thirty thousand) with one solvent surety for the like amount to the satisfaction of the court below, which shall be at liberty to impose such other suitable conditions as deemed just and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case besides the following, such as, he shall cooperate the I.O. in the investigation, till it is over. 6. Issue urgent certified copy of this order as per rules. (R.K. Pattanaik) Judge Balaram Designation: PERSONAL ASSISTANT