p. 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK BLAPL No. 2043 of 2026 Ranjan Kumar Rana …. Petitioner Mr. G. Satpathy, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha …. Opposite Party Smt. S. Mohanty, ASC CORAM: JUSTICE V. NARASINGH Order No. ORDER 09.06.2026 05. 1. Heard learned counsel for the Petitioner and learned counsel for the State. 2. The Petitioner is accused in connection with C.T. Case No.129 of 2026, pending on the file of learned J.M.F.C., Basta, arising out of Baliapal P.S. Case No. 36 of 2026, for commission of alleged offences under Sections 316(2), 318(4), 338, 336(3), and 341(1) of BNS, 2023. 3. Learned counsel, on instruction, submits that except the present BLAPL, no other bail application of the Petitioner relating to the aforementioned P.S. case is pending in any other Court. 4. Being aggrieved by the rejection of his application for bail U/s.483 of BNSS by the learned Special Judge (Vigilance), Balasore, by order dated 18.02.2026 in the aforementioned case, the present BLAPL has been filed. 5. The prosecution case, in brief, is that on 24.01.2026 at about 10:30 A.M., the complainant p. 2 reported that one Ranjan Rana opened a branch/account associated with the State Bank of India and collected deposits exceeding ₹50 lakh from more than 41 persons belonging to the Scheduled Tribe community as well as other communities. He allegedly induced the depositors to invest money by assuring them that they would receive ₹2,000 per month for every deposit of ₹1,00,000. Relying upon such assurance, the depositors handed over cash to him for deposit in their bank accounts. However, Ranjan Rana allegedly dishonestly misappropriated the money and failed to deposit the collected amounts into the respective bank accounts of the depositors. When the depositors demanded the return of their money, he allegedly abused, threatened, and misbehaved with them, thereby cheating the depositors. 6. It is submitted by learned counsel for the Petitioner that the Petitioner is in custody since 24.01.2026 and the preliminary charge sheet having been filed on 23.04.2026. Hence, further continuance of the Petitioner in custody is not warranted. 7. Such submission is opposed by the learned counsel for the Stat, inter alia, on the ground that the allegation is of defalcation of public money to the tune of 50 lakhs which was collected from the villagers and not deposited in the Bank. 8. It is stated at the Bar that the Petitioner has no criminal proclivity. 9. Considering the nature of allegation and the filing of the charge sheet, this Court directs the Petitioner to be released on bail on such terms to be fixed by the learned p. 3 Court in seisin so as to ensure his presence during the trial subject to verification of criminal antecedent of the Petitioner of any nature. If it comes to the fore that the Petitioner has any criminal antecedent, this order shall not be given effect to. 10. Additionally, it is directed that the Petitioner shall appear before the jurisdictional Police Station once a month till the submission of “final charge sheet”. Certification of such appearance shall be submitted to the learned Court in seisin. 11. Accordingly, the BLAPL stands disposed of. 12. Urgent certified copy of this order be granted as per rules. (V. NARASINGH) Vacation Judge Jina