p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No.1491 of 2026 Santosh Sethi …. Petitioners Mr. S.C. Pradhan, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha …. Opposite Party Mr. S. Panda, ASC CORAM: MR. JUSTICE R.K. PATTANAIK Order No. ORDER 16.03.2026 01. 1. Heard learned counsel for the respective parties. 2. Instant petition has been filed under Section 482 BNSS by the petitioners seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with Mahakalapada P.S. Case No.355 of 2025 corresponding to G.R. Case No.2475 of 2025 pending in the court of learned S.D.J.M., Kendrapara on the grounds stated. 3. Perused the FIR as at Annexure-1. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the present accused is the husband of the informant and said to have subjected her to cruelty in the manner described in the report. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the allegation is omnibus and case has been registered after a complaint filed by the informant. From Annexure-2, the Court finds the petitioner has approached the Family Court at Kendrapara seeking restitution of his conjugal p. 2 right under Section 9 of Hindu Marriage Act. The co-accused persons are on bail vide ABLAPL No.568 of 2026 disposed of on 28th January, 2026, a copy of which at Flag-A. Considering the nature of allegations revealed from the FIR and attempts to go for settlement and having failed and thereafter, the complaint filed by the informant treated as FIR i.e. Annexure-1 and the fact that there is no such allegation of dowry demand and related torture meted out to her, the petitioner, in view of the release of the co-accused persons, even though not entitled to pre-arrest bail, this Ciourt is of the view that he should instead be directed to surrender before the learned court below for being released with suitable conditions imposed. 4. Accordingly, it is ordered. 5. In the result, the ABLAPL is disposed of with the direction as aforesaid. It is directed that in the event, the petitioner surrenders before the learned S.D.J.M. in connection with Mahakalapada P.S. Case No.355 of 2025 corresponding to G.R. Case No.2475 of 2025 within a fortnight from today, he shall be released on bail upon furnishing a bail bond of Rs.25,000/-(rupees twenty five thousand) with one solvent surety for the like amount with such other conditions imposed as deemed just and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case besides the following, such as, he shall co-operate the IO in the investigation without default. It is further directed that the petitioner shall attend the mediation and the report the DLSA, Kendrapara on 24th March, 2026 to receive further p. 3 orders which shall be taken up with a proper notice to the informant and upon mediation concluded, report shall be submitted to the court of learned S.D.J.M., Kendrapara for further course of action according to law. 6. Issue urgent certified copy of this order as per rules. (R.K. Pattanaik) Judge TUDU