Disposed¶22

Aju @ Ajaya Sethi v. State of Odisha

Orissa HC25 Feb 2026ABLAPL/1128/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Odisha High Court, Cuttack; ABLAPL No.1128 of 2026; anticipatory/pre-arrest bail; Section 482 BNSS; Aju @ Ajaya Sethi; Sahidnagar P.S. Case No.573 of 2025; C.T. Case No.1458 of 2025; J.M.F.C.-III Bhubaneswar; non-compliance with earlier order ABLAPL No.14349 of 2025 (22.12.2025); surrender within fifteen days; regular bail first-hour consideration; Sessions Court second-hour same-day fallback; petitioner No.2 two antecedents; petitioner No.1 no antecedents; Justice R.K. Pattanaik; order dated 25.02.2026; disposed.

What did the court decide?

No pre-arrest bail granted; petitioners directed to surrender within fifteen days before learned J.M.F.C.-III, Bhubaneswar and move for regular bail, to be considered in the first hour; if rejected, to approach the learned Sessions Court the same day in the second hour. ¶22

Aju @ Ajaya Sethi Vs State of Odisha — Anticipatory Bail | Orissa HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether pre-arrest (anticipatory) bail under Section 482 BNSS should be granted to the petitioners in connection with Sahidnagar P.S. Case No.573 of 2025 corresponding to C.T. Case No.1458 of 2025 pending before learned J.M.F.C.-III, Bhubaneswar. +1 more

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Court's answer

The Court disposed of the ABLAPL and directed the petitioners to surrender within fifteen days before the learned J.M.F.C.-III, Bhubaneswar in connection with Sahidnagar P.S. Case No.573 of 2025 corresponding to C.T. Case No.1458 of 2025, in compliance with the earlier order in ABLAPL No.14349 of 2025, for consideration of their bail plea.

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Ratio / Principle

Upon surrender and application for regular bail, the application shall be duly considered in the first hour; in case of rejection, the petitioners shall approach the learned Sessions Court during the second hour for an order on the same day, considering all pleas advanced by them.

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Key takeaways

Taking into account the earlier order in ABLAPL No.14349 of 2025, the Court directed the petitioners to comply with that order for consideration of their bail plea.ratio¶20
The plea for bail vis-a-vis petitioner No.2 shall be considered with the plea that he is having only two other criminal cases (antecedents); petitioner No.1 was recorded as having none.ratio¶20

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Anticipatory bail petition (ABLAPL No.1128 of 2026) under Section 482 BNSS by Aju @ Ajaya Sethi & another in connection with Sahidnagar P.S. Case No.573 of 2025 (C.T. Case No.1458 of 2025, learned J.M.F.C.-III, Bhubaneswar) was disposed of on 25.02.2026 without granting pre-arrest bail. As the petitioners had not complied with the earlier order in ABLAPL No.14349 of 2025 (disposed of 22.12.2025) directing surrender, the Court directed them to surrender within fifteen days before learned J.M.F.C.-III, Bhubaneswar and move for regular bail, to be considered in the first hour; on rejection, to approach the learned Sessions Court the same day in the second hour, considering all pleas advanced. Counsel reported petitioner No.2 as having two antecedents and petitioner No.1 as having none; the Court held that petitioner No.2's bail plea shall be considered with the plea that he has only two other criminal cases. Urgent certified copy ordered as per rules. Coram: Mr. Justice R.K. Pattanaik.

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK

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ABLAPL No.1128 of 2026

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Aju @ Ajaya Sethi & another

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…. Petitioners

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Mr. A.S. Paul, Advocate

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-Versus-

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State of Odisha

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…. Opposite Party

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Mr. S.K. Lenka, ASC

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CORAM:

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MR. JUSTICE R.K. PATTANAIK

ORDER

25.02.2026

Order No.

Heard learned counsel for the respective parties.

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Instant petition under Section 482 BNSS is filed for pre-arrest bail of the petitioner in connection with Sahidnagar P.S. Case No.573 of 2025 corresponding to C.T. Case No.1458 of 2025 pending in the file of learned J.M.F.C.-III, Bhubaneswar on the grounds stated therein.

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The petitioners had earlier approached this Court in ABLAPL No.14349 of 2025 disposed of on 22^nd December, 2025, whereby, they were directed to surrender before the learned court below and seek regular bail, which shall be considered in the 1^st hour and in case of rejection, to approach the Sessions Court. Today, it is submitted to the Court by the learned counsel for the petitioners that petitioner No.2 is having two antecedents, whereas, petitioner No.1 has none and in view

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Page 1 of 2

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of the antecedents against the said accused, he could not surrender before the learned court below complying the order in ABLAPL No.14349 of 2025. It is informed to the Court that petitioner No.1 even though having no other similar antecedent has not surrendered complying the order in ABLAPL No.14349 of 2025 dated 22^nd December, 2025. Recorded the objection of the State. Considering the earlier order in ABLAPL No.14349 of 2025, this Court is inclined to direct the petitioners to comply the same for consideration of their bail plea. This Court is also of the view that the plea for bail vis-à-vis petitioner No.2 shall be considered with the plea that he is having only two other criminal cases.

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4. Accordingly, it is ordered.

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In the result, ABLAPL is disposed of. It is further directed that in the event, the petitioners surrender within the period of fifteen days from today before the learned J.M.F.C.III, Bhubaneswar in connection with Sahidnagar P.S. Case No.573 of 2025 corresponding to C.T. Case No.1458 of 2025 and move an application for regular bail, it shall be duly considered in the first hour and in case of rejection, they shall approach the learned Sessions Court during the second hour for an order on the same day considering all such plea advanced by them.

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6. Issue urgent certified copy as per rules. Signature Not Verified

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Digitally Signed Signed by: ALOK RANJAN SETHY Reason: Authentication (R.K. Pattanaik) Location: ORISSA HIGH COURT Date: 26-Feb-2026 17:33:01 Judge Alok

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Aju @ Ajaya Sethi v. State of Odisha

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Aju @ Ajaya Sethi v. State of Odisha

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Procedural history

Parties & counsel

Coram

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