p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No.3200 of 2026 Jagabandhu Bar …. Petitioner Ms. Khusbu Panigrahi, Advocate -Versus- State of Odisha …. Opposite Party Mr. S. Panda, ASC CORAM: MR. JUSTICE R.K. PATTANAIK Order No. ORDER 27.04.2026 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 Bamapada Industrial P.S. Case No.309 of 2025 corresponding to C.T. Case No.1087 of 2025 pending in the court of learned J.M.F.C. City, Balasore on the grounds stated. 3. Perused the FIR as at Annexure-1. According to Ms. Panigrahi, learned counsel for the petitioner, the petitioner happens to be the Sarpanch of the concerned G.P. and he apprehends arrest in view of the statement of the victim recorded before a Magistrate under Section 183 BNSS. A copy of the victim’s statement dated 25th December, 2025 is made available in the Court and the same is gone through. It is further submitted that the principal accused has been granted bail and he was forwarded to the Court without any offence alleged under the POCSO Act. It is also submitted before the Court that two other co-accused persons, who are the brother-in-law and sister-in-law of the principal accused, are on bail pursuant to the Court’s order in ABLAPL No.151 of 2026 and considering p. 2 the same, the petitioner, who is an outsider alleged to have helped in the marriage of the victim with the principal accused should be allowed to go on bail pending investigation. Recorded the objection of the State. 4. Admittedly, the victim is a minor aged about 15 years old so revealed from the FIR. As per the victim’s version, she was taken in a bus to a village and was confined there at a place and then the other events followed. As far as the allegation against the petitioner is concerned, he was present at the time of marriage. Since, the principal accused is stated to be on bail and also his brother-in-law and sister-in-law as it is revealed from Annexure-2, recording the objection of the State and the is limited role played by the petitioner in the alleged marriage between the victim and the principal accused without any direct allegation against him towards kidnapping and confinement, this Court is inclined to grant pre-arrest bail to him and accordingly, it is ordered. 5. In the result, the ABLAPL petition stands disposed of with a direction that in the event the petitioner is arrested in connection with C.T. Case No.1087 of 2025 pending before learned J.M.F.C. City, Balasore, he shall be released on bail by the Arresting Officer on furnishing a bail bond of Rs.25,000/- (rupees twenty-five thousand) with one solvent surety for the like amount with a condition that he shall co-operate the IO in the investigation without default. 6. Issue urgent certified copy of this order as per rules. (R.K. Pattanaik) Judge Balaram Designation: PERSONAL ASSISTANT