p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No.2320 of 2026 Prafulla Bhatra @ P. Bhatra …. Petitioner(s) Mr. S.K. Bhanjdeo, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha …. Opp. Party(s) Mr. S. Panigrahi, ASC CORAM: JUSTICE SIBO SANKAR MISHRA Order No. ORDER 21.04.2026 01. 1. The petitioner is an accused in connection with K. Singhpur P.S. Case No.5 of 2026 corresponding to G.R. Case No.29 of 2026 registered on the allegation of the alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections 126(2)/75(1)9ii)/351(2)/115(2) of BNS, 2023, pending in the Court of the learned SDJM, Rayagada. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner, on instruction from the petitioner, submits that, except the present bail application, no other bail application of the petitioner is pending in any other Court relating to the aforesaid F.I.R. 3. The prosecution case is that on 06.01.2026 at about 04.00 P.M., the informant had gone to the field to harvest cotton, which is 500 meters away from his p. 2 house. The further case of the prosecution is that while the informant was plucking the cotton, the petitioner outraged the modesty of the informant. Thereafter, it is alleged that the informant fled away from the spot and while the informant was running from the spot, the petitioner gave life threatening to the informant not to disclose the matter before anybody. It is further alleged that the matter was placed before the village meeting where the petitioner obeyed the decision of the village committee. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is a Government servant and the allegations are minor in nature. Therefore, if the petitioner will be arrested, he may face consequences in his service. 5. Learned counsel for the State opposed the prayer for anticipatory bail. 6. Regard being had to the nature of allegation and gravity of offence and the fact that the injuries are simple in nature, I am inclined to grant the petitioner anticipatory bail. Accordingly, it is directed that in the event the Petitioner is arrested, he shall be released on bail by the Arresting Officer, subject to verification of criminal antecedent of similar nature. The release of the Petitioner shall also be subject to the condition that he shall cooperate with the investigation and shall appear before the I.O. as and when his presence p. 3 is required by the I.O. for the purpose of investigation; he shall not indulge in similar criminal offences while on bail; he shall not threaten/harass/terrorize the informant in any manner whatsoever while on bail; and he shall appear before the trial court on each and every date of posting of the case, if not presented by sufficient cause. Violation of any of the conditions shall entail cancellation of bail. 7. The ABLAPL is accordingly disposed of. (S.S. Mishra) Judge Ashok MOHAPATRA