p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No.1797 of 2026 Surendra Sahu …. Petitioner Mr. L. Sahu, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha …. Opposite Party Ms. B.K. Sahu, AGA CORAM: MR. JUSTICE R.K. PATTANAIK Order No. ORDER 26.03.2026 01. 1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and State. 2. Instant petition has been filed under Section 482 BNSS by the petitioner seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with O.R. No.48 of 2024-25 corresponding to 2(b) CC Case No.11 of 2024 pending in the court of learned S.D.J.M., Padampur on the grounds stated. 3. Perused the OR as at Annexure-1 and also other documents including a seizure memo dated 17th December, 2024 at Annexure-2 series. The petitioner had earlier approached this Court in 2025 and was allowed to go on bail subject to verification of antecedents. A copy of the said order is at Annexure-3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the present accused is alleged of transporting timber illegally. Recorded the objection of the State with the submission that the plea of the petitioner is not to be reconsidered. From the order in the ABLAPL at Flag-A1, the p. 2 Court finds that the petitioner was allowed to be released on bail subject to verification of having not more than one criminal antecedent. Today, it is informed to the Court that the petitioner is having three criminal cases to his credit, hence, could not surrender in compliance of the above order in the ABLAPL. In the meantime, one year has elapsed and under the impression that substantial part of investigation must be over by now with filing of the final OR and recording the objection of the State and that the petitioner is a local and unlikely to abscond and that he has not been arrested as yet, this Court is of the view that instead of reconsidering his plea for pre-arrest bail, he should be directed to surrender before the learned court below for being released with conditions. 4. Accordingly, it is ordered. 5. In the result, the ABLAPL is disposed of with the direction as aforesaid. It is directed that in the event, the petitioner surrenders before the learned S.D.J.M., Padampur O.R. No.48 of 2024-25 corresponding to 2(b) CC Case No.11 of 2024 within a fortnight from today, he shall be released on bail upon furnishing a bail bond of Rs.30,000/-(rupees thirty thousand) with one solvent surety for the like amount with such other conditions imposed. 6. Issue urgent certified copy of this order as per rules. (R.K. Pattanaik) Judge TUDU Designation: Sr. Stenographer