p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No. 3354 of 2026 Narasingha Patra …. Petitioner(s) Ms. Dalirani Behuray, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha …. Opp. Party(s) Ms. S. Devi, ASC CORAM: JUSTICE SIBO SANKAR MISHRA Order No. ORDER 27.04.2026 01. 1. The petitioner is an accused in connection with Kaptipada P.S. Case No. 54 of 2024 corresponding to C.T. Case No.219 of 2024 registered on the allegation of the alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections 409/420/34 of IPC, pending in the Court of the learned SDJM, Udala. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner, on instruction from the petitioner, submits that, except the present bail application, no other bail application of the petitioner is pending in any other Court relating to the aforesaid F.I.R. 3. The prosecution case is that on 16.02.2024 at 2.00 p.m. the complainant Sidheswar Nayak, the BDO, Kaptipada appeared before the police station p. 2 and filed a written report alleging therein that 73.80 kgs PDS rice has been misappropriated by the Ex-PEO Narasingha Patra, Jogan Shayak, Sri Debendra Ghadai. On this issue an enquiry was conducted by Inspector of Supplies of this Block and report was submitted to Higher authority of this Office regarding the misappropriation and gross negligence in Govt. duty. There is serious issue in Jambari G.P. in PDS due to careless and callous attitude of both PEO, neither me nor the Inspector of Supplies has been able to verify the books of records and PDS Pass book of the G.P. Hence, this case. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the anticipatory bail application of the petitioner may be allowed on the basis of the guidelines prescribed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in judgment of in Arnesh Kumar vrs. State of Bihar and another, reported in (2014) 8 SCC 273 and Satender Kumar Angil vrs. CBI, reported in (2021) 10 SCC 773. 5. Learned counsel for the State opposed the prayer for anticipatory bail. 6. Regard being had to the nature of allegation and gravity of offence, I am inclined to enlarge the petitioner on anticipatory bail. Accordingly, it is directed that in the event the Petitioner is arrested, he shall be released on bail by the Arresting Officer, p. 3 subject to verification of criminal antecedent of similar nature. The release of the Petitioner shall also be subject to the condition that he shall cooperate with the investigation and shall appear before the I.O. as and when his presence is required by the I.O. for the purpose of investigation; he shall not indulge in similar criminal offences while on bail; he shall not threaten/harass/terrorize the informant in any manner whatsoever while on bail; and he shall appear before the trial court on each and every date of posting of the case, if not presented by sufficient cause. Violation of any of the conditions shall entail cancellation of bail. 7. The ABLAPL is accordingly disposed of. (S.S. Mishra) Judge Ashok MOHAPATRA