p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No.2657 of 2026 Abhiram Sethi …. Petitioner(s) Mr. Arun Kumar Sahu, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha and …. Opposite Party(s) Ms. Suvalaxmi Devi, ASC CORAM: JUSTICE SIBO SANKAR MISHRA Order No. ORDER 22.04.2026 01. 1. Heard. 2. The petitioner is seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with Jaleswar P.S. Case No.57 of 2026 corresponding to C.T. Case No.75 of 2026 registered on the allegation of the commission of offences under Sections 115(2)/296/3(5)/351(2)/85 of B.N.S., 2023 pending in the Court of the learned J.M.F.C., Jaleswar, Balasore. 3. 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. 4. The prosecution case, in brief, is that on 29.01.2026, the informant, Smt. Sandhyarani Sethi, wife of the present petitioner, lodged a written report before the IIC, Jaleswar P.S., stating that her marriage p. 2 with the petitioner, Abhiram Sethi, was solemnized on 22.05.2016 in accordance with Hindu rites and customs, and out of the said wedlock, a son, namely Sairam Sethi, aged about 7 years, was born. It is alleged that on 20.10.2023, the petitioner, along with his mother and elder sister, demanded a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- and upon failure of the informant’s family to meet the demand, she was subjected to mental and physical cruelty, compelling her to reside at her parental home. It is further alleged that on 22.07.2025, at about 4:30 p.m., the petitioner visited her parental house in the absence of her parents, abused and assaulted her, and threatened her with dire consequences. Hence, this case. 5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the F.I.R. has been lodged at the instance of the informant, who is the wife of the petitioner, and that the allegations are arising out of the matrimonial dispute between the parties. It is further submitted that the petitioner has no criminal antecedents. 6. Regard being had to the nature of allegation and the fact that the dispute is arising out of a matrimonial discord, 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 by the Arresting Officer, subject to the verification of the criminal antecedent of similar nature. The release of the petitioner shall also be subject to the conditions p. 3 that he shall cooperate with the investigation and shall appear before the I.O. as and when his presence is required for the purpose of investigation; he shall not indulge in similar criminal offences while on bail; 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. With this observation, the ABLAPL is disposed of. (S.S. Mishra) Judge Swarna