p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK BLAPL No.2947 of 2026 Nayana Panda …. Petitioner Mr. Chiranjeev Bidyabhushan, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha …. Opp. Party Mr. Partha Sarathi Nayak, AGA CORAM: JUSTICE SIBO SANKAR MISHRA Order No. ORDER 18.05.2026 02. 1. The petitioner is an accused in connection with Agarpada P.S. Case No.23 of 2026 corresponding to G.R. Case No.334 of 2026 registered for the alleged commission of the offences punishable under Section 85/108/80/3(5) of the BNS, 2023 r/w Section 4 of the D.P. Act, pending in the Court of the learned S.D.J.M., Bhadrak. The petitioner had approached the learned Sessions Judge, Bhadrak (I/c) in Bail Application No.111 of 2026 praying for grant of bail. The learned Court below vide its order dated 12.03.2026 rejected the bail application of the petitioner. Being aggrieved, the petitioner has filed the present petition under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023 praying for enlargement on bail. Page 2 of 5 2. 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. 3. The prosecution case as per the F.I.R. is that the marriage of the daughter of the informant was solemnized with accused Jyotiranjan Panda as per Hindu rites and customs. After few days of their marriage, the accused persons, namely, Jyotiranjan Padna (the husband) and other in-law members including the present petitioner demanded cash of Rs.1 lakh more dowry from her and started torturing her both physically and mentally. Once the accused persons assaulted her and even sent her to parental house. Thereafter, the informant and others had been to the house of the accused persons and consoled them. The accused persons assured not to repeat the said act again and by that time the daughter of the informant was carrying three months pregnancy. On 02.02.2026 afternoon, at about 4.30 P.M., the informant got information from her neighbor that her daughter committed suicide by hanging. Hence, the case. Page 3 of 5 4. After the investigation, the charge sheet has been filed in the present case on 01.05.2026. The petitioner has been in custody since 03.02.2026. 5. The learned counsel for the State has produced the C.D. in the present case. Perusal of the C.D. reveals that although there was constant harassment meted out to the deceased by the accused persons, but reading of the evidence of the independent eye witness Arnapurna Panda also reveals that on the date of the incident, the witness heard that the present petitioner was shouting loudly calling his son Dillip Panda. She immediately went there and saw that the petitioner was trying to open the door and found that the deceased was hanging in the fan. Immediately, they rescued the deceased and took her to the hospital where she was declared dead. By reading of the evidence of the independent witness, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the deceased committed suicide by bolting the door from inside the room and petitioner attempted to rescued the deceased by forcefully opening the door. 6. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that p. 4 petitioner is the mother-in-law of the deceased, who is 55 years old and she has been in custody since 03.02.2026. 7. Regard being had to the nature of allegation against the petitioner and the period of her custody since 03.02.2026, I am inclined to enlarge the petitioner on bail. 8. Hence, the petitioner is directed to be released on bail by the learned Court in seisin over the matter in the aforesaid case on such terms and conditions as it would deem just and proper, subject to the following additional conditions. (i) She shall not leave the jurisdiction of the trial Court till the disposal of the trial; (ii) She shall appear before the trial Court on each date on which the case is posted for trial without fail; (iii) She shall not tamper with the evidence in any manner whatsoever; (iv) She shall not commit any offence while on bail, and (v) She shall be released on bail subject to verification of similar type of criminal antecedents. Violation of any of the bail conditions imposed by this Court or the trial Court even on a single occasion, the prosecution is at liberty to move appropriate application before the Court below for cancellation of the concession of bail granted by this Court. If such application is filed, the p. 5 Subhasis trial Court should decide the application on its own merit. 9. The BLAPL is accordingly disposed of. (S.S. Mishra) Judge Designation: Personal Assistant Location: High Court of Orissa, Cuttack. Date: 18-May-2026 19:42:30