p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No. 2587 of 2026 Pravakar Jena …. Petitioner Mr. T.K. Mohanty, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha …. Opposite Party Mr. M.R. Mohanty, AGA Mr. S. Mishra, Adv.(Informant) CORAM: JUSTICE V. NARASINGH Order No. ORDER 22.04.2026 01. 1. Heard learned counsel for the Petitioner, learned counsel for the State and learned counsel for the Informant. 2. The Petitioner is seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with Special G.R. Case No. 158 of 2025 pending on the file of learned Court of Additional Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge under POCSO Act, Puri arising out of Chandanpur P.S Case No.290 of 2025 for commission of offences punishable under Section 75(2)/76/351(2) of BNS r/w Section 8 of POCSO Act & Sec 3(1)(w)(i)/3(1)(w)(ii)of SC/ST (PoA) Act. 3. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the Petitioner that the Petitioner has been falsely implicated in the case at hand and the allegations ex- p. 2 facie are highly improbable in nature. Hence, he may be protected by pre-arrest bail. 4. Learned counsel for the State as well as Informant oppose the prayer for pre-arrest bail. 5. This Court perused the statement of the victim aged about 12 years under Section 180 of BNSS and the certificate relied upon by the prosecution issued by the Revenue Inspector indicating that the victim belongs to Dom which covered under the Schedule. 6. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the Petitioner that ex-facie the allegation under Sections 3(1)(w)(i)/3(1)(w)(ii)of SC/ST (PoA) Act are not maintainable. 7. Even accepting such submission at its face value, taking into account the statement of the victim, this Court is not inclined to entertain this application for pre-arrest bail. 8. The ABLAPL is accordingly disposed of. (V. NARASINGH) Judge Ayesha