p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No. 10029 of 2026 CNR No. ODHC010649202026 Manas Kumar Panda …. Petitioner Mr. R. Swain, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha …. Opposite Party Mr. A.K. Pati, ASC CORAM: JUSTICE V. NARASINGH Order No. ORDER 01.09.2026 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 2(a) C.C. Case No.65 of 2026 pending on the file of learned J.M.F.C-I, Cuttack, arising out of EI and EB Unit-II P.R. Case No.221 of 2026 for commission of offences punishable under Section 52(a)(i) of Odisha Excise Act. 3. Learned counsel for the State opposes the prayer for pre-arrest bail. 4. Taking into account the nature of allegation and the submissions made, this Court directs that on surrendering within three weeks hence and moving for bail, the Petitioner shall be released on bail by the p. 2 learned Court in seisin on such terms as deemed just and proper subject to verification of not more than one criminal antecedent of similar nature. 5. If it comes to the fore that the Petitioner has more than one criminal antecedent of similar nature, this order shall not be given effect to. 6. It is needless to state that the Petitioner shall cooperate with the ongoing investigation. 7. Accordingly, the ABLAPL stands disposed of. 8. U.C.C. as per rules. (V. NARASINGH) Judge Santoshi