IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No.10261 of 2026 CNR No. ODHC010676612026 Litu @ Sitakanta Pradhan …. Petitioner Mr. D. Mund, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha …. Opposite Party Mr. S. K. Lenka, ASC CORAM: JUSTICE V. NARASINGH Order No. ORDER 09.09.2026 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.1159 of 2026 pending on the file of learned S.D.J.M., Athamallik, arising out of Kishorenagar P.S. Case No.234 of 2026 for commission of offences punishable under Sections 303(2)/317(2)/3(5) of BNS. 3. It is submitted by the learned counsel that the Petitioner has been falsely implicated in the case at hand. It is further submitted by the learned counsel that the materials which were allegedly stolen have already been recovered and since the Petitioner does not have any criminal proclivity, he may be protected by pre-arrest bail. 4. Learned counsel for the State opposes the prayer for pre-arrest bail during the currency of investigation. 5. Taking into account the nature of allegations and the recovery as noted, 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 similar nature. 6. 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. 7. It is needless to state that the Petitioner shall cooperate with the ongoing investigation. 8. Accordingly, the ABLAPL stands disposed of. (V. NARASINGH) Judge Jina