p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK CRLA No.63 of 2026 Pramod Kar @ Pramod Kumar Kar & Appellant Mr. A.K.Panda, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha & another & Respondents Mr. R.B.Mishra, Addl.PP Mr.B.C.Parija, Advocate for Informant CORAM: JUSTICE G. SATAPATHY Order No. ORDER(ORAL) 09.03.2026 03. 1. This matter is taken up through Hybrid Arrangement (Virtual/Physical Mode). 2. This criminal appeal Under Section 14-A(2) of the Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 together with amendment Act, 2016 (in short, <the Act=) in nature of bail is directed against the impugned order dated 24.11.2025 passed by the learned Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge, Sundargarh in Special GR Case No. 143 of 2024 arising out of Sundargarh Town PS Case No. 433 of 2024 refusing to grant bail to the appellant for commission of offence punishable U/Ss. 126(2)/296/115(2)/318(4)/351(2)/3(5) of BNS read with Sec. 3(1)(r)/3(1)(s)/3(2)(va) of SC & ST (POA) Act, on the main allegation of cheating the informant belonging to <ST= Community by taking her gold ornaments on threatening to commit suicide. 3. Heard, Mr.Akash Kumar Panda, learned counsel who enters appearance for the appellant in p. 2 Court today by filing Vakalatnama after taking no objection from previous counsel, Mr.Bikash Chandra Parija, learned counsel for the informant and Mr.R.B.Mishra, learned Addl. Public Prosecutor in the matter and perused the record. Further, Mr.Panda files a comprehensive affidavit indicating therein the cases registered against the appellant and the present status thereof. On the other hand, Mr.Parija, learned counsel for the informant strongly opposes the bail application of the appellant by contending inter alia that the appellant being a habitual offender should not be extended with any leniency in granting bail. 4. After having considered the rival submissions and taking into consideration the nature and gravity of the offences as alleged against the appellant vis-à- vis the accusations sought to be brought against him and regard being had to the pretrial detention of the appellant in custody since 20.09.2025 with submission of charge sheet in the meantime and taking into account the other circumstances on record in entirety including the statement of the victim and keeping in view the inherent right of the accused to be presumed innocent until proven guilty at the trial, this Court considers it proper to admits the appellant to bail. 5. Hence, the Criminal Appeal stands allowed and the impugned order is hereby set aside. Consequently, the appellant be released on bail on p. 3 furnishing bail bonds of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand) only with two solvent sureties each for the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned Court in seisin of the case on such terms and conditions as deem fit and proper by it with following conditions:- (i) the appellant shall not contact the victim in any way or any manner and he shall not visit to the house, street or village of the victim till disposal of the case and (ii) the appellant shall not threaten, induce, influence or coerce any of the witnesses including the family members of the victim acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade them from disclosing such facts before the Court. 6. Accordingly, the CRLA stands disposed of. (G. Satapathy) Judge kishore