IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK BLAPL No.198 of 2026 Umashankar Kumawat … Petitioner Mr. A. Bisoi, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha … Opposite Party Mr. C. Mohanty, Addl. PP CORAM: JUSTICE G. SATAPATHY Order No. ORDER(ORAL) 19.02.2026 01. 1. This matter is taken up through Hybrid Arrangement (Virtual/Physical Mode). 2. This is an application U/S.483 of BNSS Act by the petitioner for grant of bail in connection with Titilagarh GRPS Case No.139 of 2025 corresponding to Spl. GR Case No.17 of 2025 pending in the Court of learned Addl. Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge, Kantabanji, for commission of offences punishable U/S. 20 (b) (ii) (B) of the NDPS Act, on the allegation of possessing 14.850Kgs of Contraband Ganja. 3. Heard, Mr. Anindita Bisoi, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. C. Mohanty, learned Additional Public Prosecutor in the matter and perused the record. 4. After having considered the rival submissions and on going through the material placed on record and regard being had to the pre-trial detention of the Petitioner in custody since 19.12.2025 and taking into account the other circumstances on record in entirety including the well-recognized principle “bail is the rule, but jail is the exception” and the quantity of contraband ganja seized in this case being for intermediate quantity, which does not attract the provision of Section 37 of NDPS Act, this Court without expressing any view on merit admits the Petitioner to bail. 5. Hence, the bail application of the petitioner stands allowed and the petitioner is allowed to go on bail on furnishing bail bonds of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand) only with one solvent surety for the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned Court in seisin of the case on such terms and conditions as deem fit and proper by it. 6. Accordingly, the BLAPL stands disposed of. 7. Issue urgent certified copy of the order as per Rules. A soft copy of this order be immediately communicated to the concerned Court, who shall afterwards communicate the same to the concerned Jail through e-mail for reference. (G. Satapathy) Judge Jayakrushna