p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK BLAPL No.2647 of 2026 Ramanath Mallick …. Petitioner(s) Mr. Amulya Ratna Panda, Adv. -versus- State of Orissa …. Opposite Party(s) Miss Gayatri Patra, ASC CORAM: HON’BLE DR.JUSTICE SANJEEB K PANIGRAHI Order No. 02. ORDER 05.05.2026 F.I.R. No. Dated Police Station Case No. and Courts’ Name Sections 0017 24.01.2025 Khajuripada C.T.(N) Case No.28 of 2025 arising out of Khajuripada P.S. Case No.17 of 2025 pending before the Court of learned Special Judge, Phulbani Sections 20(a)(i) of the N.D.P.S Act read with Section 27(1) of the Odisha Forest Act 1. This matter is taken up through hybrid arrangement. 2. Heard learned counsel for the Petitioner and learned counsel for the State. 3. The Petitioner being in custody in connection with C.T.(N) Case No.28 of 2025 arising out of Khajuripada P.S. Case No.17 of 2025 pending before the Court of learned Special Judge, Phulbani registered for the alleged commission of offences under Sections 20(a)(i) of the N.D.P.S Act read with Section 27(1) of the Odisha Digitally Signed Signed by: AYASKANTA JENA Designation: Personal Assistant Reason: Authentication Location: High Court of Orissa Date: 06-May-2026 19:15:02 Signature Not Verified p. 2 Forest Act, has filed this application for his release on bail. 4. The brief fact of the case is that on 24.01.2025 at about 8.10 A.M. while the informant along with his other Police Staffs including Government Officials were conducting patrolling duty near Jhadapadar and Raidalia villages area, they found cultivation of large numbers of hemp plant along side the nala area at the Jhadapadar and Raidalia villages under Arapaju Grama Panchayat. Thereafter, on getting credible information they apprehended the present Petitioner. Accordingly, on completion of investigation and all the formalities, the Petitioner was taken into custody. The Petitioner has been languishing in custody since 23.02.2026. 5. Learned counsel for the Petitioner contends that the Petitioner is no way connected to the offences alleged against him. He has been entangled in this case only on suspicion. Moreover, the co-accused person has already been enlarged on bail vide order dated 02.05.2026 passed in ABLAPL No.4335 of 2026. He, accordingly, prays for permitting the Petitioner to be released on bail. 6. Learned counsel for the State vehemently opposes the prayer for bail of the present Petitioner. She further submits that such type of offences is not tolerable in a Digitally Signed Signed by: AYASKANTA JENA Designation: Personal Assistant Reason: Authentication Location: High Court of Orissa Date: 06-May-2026 19:15:02 Signature Not Verified p. 3 law abiding society. She, accordingly, prays for dismissal of this BLAPL. 7. Considering the submissions made on behalf of both the parties, this Court without going into the merits of the case, directs the court in seisin over the matter to release the present Petitioner on bail in the aforesaid case on some stringent terms and conditions with further conditions that: i. the Petitioner shall appear before the concerned local Police Station on every alternate Sunday between 10.00A.M. to 12.00P.M. till conclusion of the trial; ii. the Petitioner shall appear before the learned Court in seisin over the matter on each date of posting of the case; iii. the Petitioner shall not indulge himself in any criminal activities in future; iv. the Petitioner shall not tamper the evidence of the prosecution witnesses in any manner; 8. Violation of any of the above conditions shall entail cancellation of the bail. 9. This BLAPL is, accordingly, disposed of. (Dr. Sanjeeb K Panigrahi) Judge Ayaskanta Designation: Personal Assistant