IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No.679 of 2026 Manoj Kumar Pradhan & another …. Petitioners Mr. A.S. Paul, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha & another …. Opposite Parties Mr. S. Panda, ASC CORAM: MR. JUSTICE R.K. PATTANAIK Order No. ORDER 03.02.2026 01. 1. Heard learned counsel for the respective parties. 2. Instant petition has been filed under Section 482 BNSS by the petitioner seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with Barkot P.S. Case No.388 of 2024 corresponding to CT Case No.13 of 2024 pending in the court of learned Judge, Special Court, Deogarh on the grounds stated. 3. Gone through the FIR as at Annexure-1. The copies of the statements of the witnesses including the informant/victim are made available to the Court along with a copy of the chargesheet dated 19th November, 2024. It is submitted that no case under the SC & ST (PoA) Act is made out and other offences are bailable in nature. On a reading of the statement of the victim, it is made to understand that he was abused at a public place taking the name of his caste. Considering the chargesheet filed in the meantime, this Court is of the view that the petitioners should instead be directed to surrender before the court of learned Judge, Special Court, Deogarh for consideration of their bail to be dealt with in terms of the decision of this Court in Pramod Kumar Ray and others Vrs. State of Odisha (2017) 67 OCR 309 for orders with a proper notice to the informant. 4. Accordingly, it is ordered. 5. In the result, the ABLAPL is disposed of with the direction as aforesaid. 6. Issue urgent certified copy of this order as per rules. (R.K. Pattanaik) Judge TUDU