p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No.10144 of 2026 CNR No. ODHC010658102026 Pankaj Kumar Nath … Petitioner Mr. P. K. Barik, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha …. Opposite Party Mr. A. K. Pati, ASC CORAM: JUSTICE V. NARASINGH Order No. ORDER 03.09.2026 01. 1. Heard learned counsel for the Petitioner and learned counsel for the State. 2. The Petitioner is seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with G.R. Case No.277 of 2026 pending on the file of learned S.D.J.M, Bhadrak arising out of Puruna Bazar P.S. Case No.192 of 2026 for commission of offences punishable under Section 52(a) of the Orissa Excise Act, 2008 and Section 111(3)/281/324(3) of BNS. 3. It is stated that the Petitioner was before this Court in ABLAPL No.9198 of 2026 and this Court by order dated 13.08.2026 directed him to surrender and release on bail subject to verification of criminal antecedent of similar nature. 4. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the Petitioner that inadvertently it could not be brought to the notice of this Court that the Petitioner has one p. 2 criminal antecedent i.e. Puruna Bazar P.S. Case No. 58 of 2025 of offence U/s- 115(2), 76, 109, 74, 351(2), 351(3), 296, 126(2) and 3(5) of BNS 2023. 5. It is stated that in view of the allegations in the case at hand, the antecedent ought not to deter this Court from considering the prayer of the Petitioner on merit. 6. Learned counsel for the State opposes the prayer for pre-arrest bail, inter alia, referring to the conduct of the Petitioner. 7. Taking into account the nature of allegations and the punishment prescribed, this Court directs that on surrendering within three weeks hence and moving for bail, the Petitioner shall be released on bail by the learned Court in seisin on such terms as deemed just and proper subject to verification of not more than one criminal antecedent of any nature. 8. If it comes to the fore that the Petitioner has more than one criminal antecedent of any nature, this order shall not be given effect to. 9. It is needless to state that the Petitioner shall cooperate with the ongoing investigation. 10. Accordingly, the ABLAPL stands disposed of. (V. NARASINGH) Judge Jina