IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK BLAPL No.2052 of 2026 Santosh Kumar Sahoo …. Petitioner Mr. S.K. Swain, Advocate -versus- State of Odisha …. Opposite Party Mr. M. R. Mohanty, AGA CORAM: JUSTICE V. NARASINGH Order No. ORDER 22.04.2026 01. 1. Heard learned counsel for the Petitioner and learned counsel for the State. 2. The Petitioner is an accused in connection with G.R. Case No.138 of 2026 pending on the file of learned S.D.J.M, Nayagarh, arising out of Nayagarh P.S. Case No.41 of 2026 for commission of offence alleged under Sections 123/ 274/ 275/ 318(2)/ 3(5) of BNS, 2023 and R/w Section 20 of Cigarette and other Tobacco products Act, 2003. 3. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on 08.02.2026 at about 10:58 PM, Jajati Keshari Sinha, SI of Nayagarh Police Station, submitted a written report alleging that while he, along with the PS staff, was performing evening patrolling duty, they conducted a raid near Mishra Colony on Khandapada Road, Nayagarh. During the raid, they apprehended one Santosh Kumar Sahoo in front of Mishra Colony, Khandapada Road, Nayagarh, in possession of banned gutkha items. As the accused could not produce any valid license or authority to sell or possess such banned gutkha items, the same were seized. The seizure included four jerry bags, each containing 50 packets, with each packet containing 10 pouches, and one jerry bag containing 43 packets, each packet containing 10 pouches, making a total of 243 packets, i.e., 2,430 pouches. The accused was then brought to the Police Station along with the seized articles for necessary legal action. 4. 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. 5. Being aggrieved by the rejection of his application for bail U/s.483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) by the learned Addl. Sessions Judge, Nayagarh by order dated 19.02.2026 in the aforementioned cases, the present BLAPL has been filed. 6. It is submitted by the learned counsel that the Portioner is in custody since 08.02.2026. 7. Learned counsel for the State opposes the prayer for bail during currency of investigation. 8. Considering the progress in investigation and the nature of allegations and the punishment prescribed, this Court directs the Petitioner to be released on bail on such terms to be fixed by the learned Court in seisin so as to ensure his presence during the trial. 9. Accordingly, the BLAPL stands disposed of. 10. Urgent certified copy of this order be granted as per rules. (V. NARASINGH) Judge Jina