p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No.3864 of 2026 Satish Kumar Biswal …. Petitioner Mr. D. Nayak, Sr. Advocate assisted by Ms. Bini Mishra, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha …. Opposite Party Mr. S. Panda, ASC ABLAPL No.4079 of 2026 Kulamani Pradhan …. Petitioner Mr. D. Kanungo, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha …. Opposite Party Mr. S. Panda, ASC A N D ABLAPL No. 4105 of 2026 Pradeep Mohanty …. Petitioner Mr. D. Kanungo, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha …. Opposite Party Mr. S. Panda, ASC CORAM: MR. JUSTICE R.K. PATTANAIK Order No. ORDER 04.05.2026 02. 1. All the ABLAPLs are taken up together for disposal by the following common order. p. 2 2. Recorded the submissions of learned counsel for the respective parties. 3. Instant petitions have been filed under Section 482 BNSS by the petitioners seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with Jenapur P.S. Case No.73 of 2026 corresponding to C.T. Case No. 487 of 2026 pending in the court of learned J.M.F.C., Chandikhole, Jajpur on the grounds stated. 4. Perused the FIR as at Annexure-2 series. Recorded the submissions of Mr. Nayak, learned Senior Advocate appearing for the petitioner in ABLAPL No.3864 of 2026 and Mr. Kanungo, learned counsel for the other two petitioners in the ABLAPLs and also State. On a reading of the FIR dated 16th March,2026, it is alleged that the petitioners demanded extortion. Mr. Nayak, learned Senior Advocate appearing for the accused, namely, Satish Kumar Biswal submits that he is a Journalist by profession and his works has received laurels but has been implicated with his name mentioned in the FIR for the reasons disclosed. The further submission is that the petitioner since falsely implicated, he should be allowed to go on bail with conditions pending investigation. Similar is the submission of Mr. Kanungo, learned counsel for the other two. The further submission is that said accused persons, namely, Pradeep Mohanty and Kulamani Pradhan do not have any antecedents and in so far as the allegations in the FIR are concerned, they are utterly false instead the FIR was lodged by them in the first place and it was followed by the report of the informant at Annexure-2 series. Recorded the objection of the p. 3 State. The case diary is made available by Mr. Panda, learned ASC for the State for the Court’s perusal. On perusal of the case diary, this Court finds absence of any such materials to show that the petitioners demanded any specific amount towards extortion. In course of hearing, it is informed to the Court that the accused journalist does not have any antecedent either. Mr. Panda, learned ASC submits the medical examination report of the informant and it reveals that he received a bruise stated to be simple in nature with an opinion therein that it might have been caused by hard and blunt object but in response to absence of antecedents as claimed, Mr. Panda, learned ASC for the State would inform that he has one registered as Jenapur P.S. Case No. 249 dated 6th October, 2018 under Sections. 143, 147, 291, 294 506 and 149 I.P.C. Considering the nature of allegations levelled against the petitioners, though the Court is not inclined to entertain the pre- arrest bail plea as has been advanced, however, is in favour of directing the petitioners to surrender before the learned court below to go on bail with suitable conditions imposed. 5. Accordingly, it is ordered. 6. In the result, the ABLAPL petitions stand disposed of with a direction to the petitioners to surrender before learned J.M.F.C., Chandikhole, Jajpur within four weeks from today and in the event, they surrender in compliance thereof, shall be released on bail in connection with C.T. Case No. 487 of 2026 on furnishing a bail bond of Rs.20,000/- (rupees twenty thousand) each with one solvent surety for the like amount each p. 4 to the satisfaction of the court below, which shall be at liberty to impose such other suitable conditions as deemed just and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case. 7. Issue urgent certified copy of this order as per rules. (R.K. Pattanaik) Judge Balaram Designation: PERSONAL ASSISTANT