IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No. 11913 of 2025 Raghunath Sahoo …. Petitioner Mr. S.K. Dash, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha …. Opposite Party Mr. C.R. Swain, AGA CORAM: JUSTICE V. NARASINGH Order No. ORDER 2210.2025 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 2 (a) C.C. Case No.119 of 2025 pending on the file of learned J.M.F.C., Gondia arising out of P.R. Case No.52 of 2025-26 for commission of offences punishable under Section 52(a) of Odisha Excise Act, 2008. 3. It is stated that the Petitioner was before this Court in ABLAPL No.9204 of 2025 and this Court by order dated 12.08.2025 directed him to surrender and release on bail subject to verification of more than one criminal antecedent of any nature. 4. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the Petitioner that inadvertently it could not be brought to the notice of this Court that though the Petitioner has been cited as an accused in two cases, he has since been acquitted in one case i.e. 2(a) C.C. No.61 of 2024 on 17.01.2024 by the learned J.M.F.C., Bhuban and the only case pending is 2(a) C.C. No.98 of 2023. 5. Learned counsel for the State opposes the prayer for pre-arrest bail and submits that since the Petitioner did not approach this Court with clean hands, no leniency ought to be shown to him. 6. Taking into account the nature of allegation and the earlier order passed, 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 any nature other than 2(a) C.C. No.98 of 2023. 7. If it comes to the fore that the Petitioner has any criminal antecedent other than 2(a) C.C. No.98 of 2023, this order shall not be given effect to. 8. It is needless to state that the Petitioner shall cooperate with the ongoing investigation. 9. Accordingly, the ABLAPL stands disposed of. U.C.C. as per rules. (V. NARASINGH) Judge Ayesha