p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No.8721 of 2026 CNR No. ODHC010543382026 Ashok Kumar Pradhan @ Ashok @ Basanta Kumar Pradhan …. Petitioner Mr. A.S. Paul, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha …. Opposite Party Mr. U.C. Jena, ASC CORAM: JUSTICE V. NARASINGH Order No. ORDER 17.08.2026 02. 1. Heard learned counsel for the Petitioner and learned counsel for the State. 2. The Petitioner is seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with C.T. Case No.2397 of 2011 pending on the file of learned J.M.F.C.(Rural), Balasore, arising out of Khantapada P.S. Case No.315(18) of 2011 for commission of offences punishable under Section 395 IPC. 3. Learned counsel for the State opposes such prayer. p. 2 4. Taking into account the nature of allegations and the Petitioner has one criminal antecedents and that the incident is of the year 2011, this Court is not inclined to entertain the application for pre-arrest bail. However, it is directed that the Petitioner may surrender before the learned J.M.F.C.(Rural), Balasore in connection with the aforementioned case within one month from today. In the event of his surrender and motion for bail, the same be considered by the learned J.M.F.C.(Rural), Balasore on merits, in the first hour of the day. In the event of rejection of the prayer for bail by the learned J.M.F.C.(Rural), Balasore, the Petitioner is at liberty to move the higher forum for bail in the second hour on the same day. 5. On being so moved, the higher forum is requested to make an endeavour to dispose of the bail application of the Petitioner on the same day on merit in accordance with law. ` The case diary shall be made available to the concerned courts to facilitate disposal of the bail application of the Petitioner and learned J.M.F.C.(Rural), Balasore is called upon to transmit p. 3 the case record to the higher forum at the earliest in the event of rejection of such bail application. Ground of Parity, if any, may be considered by the learned court (s) below. 6. Accordingly, the ABLAPL stands disposed of. U.C.C. as per rules. (V. NARASINGH) Judge Soumya