IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK BLAPL No.9259 of 2024 CORAM: JUSTICE SASHIKANTA MISHRA ORDER 05.02.2025 1. This matter is taken up through hybrid mode. 2. The petitioner was earlier granted interim bail by this Court in BLAPL No.8890 of 2019. He did not surrender after expiry of the period of interim bail for which NBW was issued by the Court below. This is how the petitioner came to be in custody again. 3. Case record reveals that the petitioner was originally taken into custody 09.03.2018 in connection with Nandapur P.S. Case No.20 of 2018, corresponding to T.R. Case No.3 (C) of 2018 pending in the Court of Additional Sessions Judge-Cum-Special Judge, Koraput for alleged commission of offence under Section 20 (b) (ii) (C) of the NDPS Act, 1985. 4. It is alleged that the petitioner and two other persons were carrying contraband ganja weighing 143 Kgs and 700 grams in a vehicle when they were detained and subsequently apprehended by the police. 5. It is stated that the trial has commenced, and only two witnesses have been examined. Leaving aside the period of interim bail, the petitioner has spent more than five years in custody by Kiran Khilla ...... Petitioner Represented by Mr. R.L. Pattnaik, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha ….. Opp. Party Represented by Mr. S.S. Routray, Addl. Standing Counsel Order No. 01. now. 6. Taking note of the delay in conclusion of trial, this Court is inclined to take a lenient view. Let the petitioner be released on interim bail for a period of two months from the date of his actual release on such terms and conditions as the Court in seisin over the matter may deem fit and proper to impose. 7. The petitioner shall immediately surrender after expiry period of interim bail. (Sashikanta Mishra) Judge Puspanjali Location: High Court of Orissa, Cuttack.