p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK WPCRL No.11 of 2026 Omm Arpita Kumar Khuntia …. Petitioner Mr. Durga Prasad Pradhan, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha and others …. Opposite Parties Mr. Sanjay Rath, Addl. Government Advocate CORAM: HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE MURAHARI SRI RAMAN Order No. ORDER 23.02.2026 01. 1. This writ petition in the nature of habeas corpus is taken out for a direction to the opposite party Nos.1 to 5 to take appropriate steps to rescue the mother of the petitioner, i.e., opposite party No.7 who is alleged to have been with the opposite party No.6. 2. An instruction has come to be received by Mr. Sanjay Rath, learned Addl. Government Advocate from the Inspector-in-Charge, Laxmisagar Police Station, Bhubaneswar, from which it is revealed that during course of investigation, sincere efforts were made by the police to trace out the mother of the petitioner at BDA Colony, Laxmisagar and it could come to fore that while the victim was roaming in the locality, with aid of certain social workers the local residents shifted her to a shelter home maintained under the National Urban Livelihood Mission, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation for care and shelter. On 10.02.2026, the victim was traced at the shelter home p. 2 and was brought to the Police Station, where she was provided with food. Her statement was also recorded under Section 180 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (in short, ‘BNSS’), by the concerned I.O. 2.1. It is also revealed from the said report that upon being rescued, and after recording her statement under Section 183 of the BNSS, on 13.02.2026, the victim was taken to Sanjeevani Old Age Home, Jagannathpur, Balianta in the District of Khordha for safety and protection. 3. In view of the above, since the victim has been traced out and has been kept in the Old Age Home for her safety and protection, this Court does not feel it appropriate to keep the instant writ petition pending as it would subserve no fruitful purpose. The petitioner may take appropriate steps available to him in accordance with law. 4. Accordingly, the WPCRL stands disposed of. (Harish Tandon) Chief Justice (M.S. Raman) Judge Bichi Designation: Secretary