IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No.5465 of 2026 Saroj Kumar Behera …. Petitioner Mr. S.K. Jena, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha & another …. Opposite Parties Ms. Suvalaxmi Devi, ASC CORAM: JUSTICE SIBO SANKAR MISHRA Order No. ORDER 20.05.2026 02. 1. Heard. 2. The petitioner is seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with ICC Case No.39 of 2021 registered for alleged commission of offences punishable under Sections 468/471/420/409/120(B)/34 of the IPC, pending in the Court of the learned J.M.F.C., Baramba. 3. 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. 4. The allegation as per the FIR is that the petitioner was working as Government Teacher and misappropriated the government money. The complainant being a local man filed the compliant case alleging that the Govt. had allotted Rs.1,30,100/- towards medical expenses in respect of the teachers. But it is alleged by the complainant that the petitioner along with other teachers have misappropriated the said amount by giving false medical bills on different occasions and cheated the Govt. Hence, the case. 5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the co-accused has already been admitted to bail by the Coordinate Bench vide order dated 27.04.2026 passed in ABLAPL No.3206 of 2026. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner seeks similar relief. 6. Regard being had to the nature of allegations against the petitioner and the fact that the co-accused has been admitted to bail by the Coordinate of this Court vide order dated 27.04.2026 passed in ABLAPL No.3206 of 2026, 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 by the Arresting Officer subject to the verification of similar criminal antecedents, he shall cooperate with the investigation and shall appear before the I.O. as and when his presence is required for the purpose of investigation; he shall not indulge in similar criminal offences while on bail; 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. In the event, the petitioner is found indulged in similar case in future, the concession of pre-arrest bail granted by this Court shall be withdrawn. 8. The ABLAPL is accordingly disposed of. (S.S. Mishra) Judge Subhasis Designation: Personal Assistant Location: High Court of Orissa, Cuttack.