Sidhanta @ Sidhant Naik Vs State of Odisha — Orissa HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Sidhanta @ Sidhant Naik Vs State of Odisha — Orissa HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Conditional anticipatory bail granted to both petitioners: upon arrest, release on bail by the Arresting Officer subject to verification of criminal antecedents of similar nature, cooperation with investigation and appearance before the I.O. as required, abstention from similar offences, non-harassment of the informant, and attendance before the trial court on every posting date; violation of any condition entails cancellation of bail.

Issue for consideration

Whether anticipatory bail should be granted to the petitioners, who stand accused in Motanga P.S. Case No. 01 of 2026 / G.R. Case No.01 of 2026 for an offence punishable under Sections 308(4) of BNS, pending before the learned JMFC (Cog. Taking), Dhenkanal, with investigation still ongoing.

Court's answer

Grant of anticipatory bail: regard being had to the nature of the allegation and the fact that the petitioners have no criminal antecedents, the Court was inclined to grant anticipatory bail; in the event the petitioners are arrested, they shall be released on bail by the Arresting Officer, subject to verification of criminal antecedents of similar nature.

Ratio / Principle

Conditions of release: the petitioners shall cooperate with the investigation and appear before the I.O. whenever their presence is required; shall not indulge in similar criminal offences while on bail; shall not threaten/harass/terrorize the informant; and shall appear before the trial court on each and every date of posting of the case, if not prevented by sufficient cause.

Key takeaways

Violation of any of the bail conditions shall entail cancellation of bail.ratio¶21

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Anticipatory bail — offence punishable under Sections 308(4) of BNS — High Court of Orissa at Cuttack, ABLAPL No. 2337 of 2026 (order dated 14.05.2026, Justice Sibo Sankar Mishra): Petitioners Sidhanta @ Sidhant Naik and Baru @ Barun Naik, accused in Motanga P.S. Case No. 01 of 2026 corresponding to G.R. Case No.01 of 2026 pending before the learned JMFC (Cog. Taking), Dhenkanal, sought anticipatory bail. The FIR, lodged on 02.01.2026 by the complainant working as AGM Security at Rungta Mines Ltd., Dhenkanal Steel Plant, alleged that local villagers were illegally collecting money on a daily basis from vehicles approaching the plant, pulling vehicles out of the queue after collecting money from drivers, and threatening security personnel with physical harm and dire consequences. Case diary perusal (obtained following order dated 21.04.2026) showed the petitioners had no criminal antecedents and that investigation was still ongoing; State counsel opposed the prayer on that ground. Regard being had to the nature of the allegation and the absence of criminal antecedents, the Court granted anticipatory bail: upon arrest, the petitioners are to be released on bail by the Arresting Officer, subject to verification of criminal antecedents of similar nature, and to conditions of cooperation with the investigation and appearance before the I.O. as required, abstention from similar offences while on bail, non-threatening/harassment of the informant, and appearance before the trial court on each and every date of posting; violation of any condition shall entail cancellation of bail. The ABLAPL was disposed of accordingly.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK

ABLAPL No. 2337 of 2026

1. Sidhanta @ Sidhant …. Petitioner(s) Naik Mr. S. Behera, Advocate

2. Baru @ Barun Naik

-versus-

State of Odisha and …. Opp. Party(s) another Mr. D. Mohanty, AGA

CORAM:

JUSTICE SIBO SANKAR MISHRA

Order No.

ORDER

14.05.2026

The petitioners are accused in connection with Motanga P.S. Case No. 01 of 2026 corresponding to G.R. Case No.01 of 2026 registered on the allegation of the alleged commission of offence punishable under Sections 308(4) of BNS, pending in the Court of the learned JMFC (Cog. Taking), Dhenkanal.

Learned counsel for the petitioners, on instruction from the petitioners, submits that, except the present bail application, no other bail application of the petitioners is pending in any other Court relating to the aforesaid F.I.R.

The prosecution case as per the FIR is that on

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02.01.2026 the complainant who is working as AGMSecurity at Rungta Mines Ltd., Dhenkanal Steel Plant presented a written report at the P.S. alleging therein that some local villagers are illegally collecting money on a daily basis from vehicles approaching plant, starting from the National Highway (NH) up to the plant gate. Villagers are individually forcibly removes vehicle from the proper queue after collecting money from the drivers and allow them direct entry towards the plant gate. When the security personnel restraint them, the accused persons were threatening with physical harm, using abusive languages and often issue threats of dire consequence. Their behavior spread fear and panic in the area. Hence, the case.

Vide order dated 21.04.2026, the State Counsel was directed to obtain the case diary. Perusal of the case diary revealed that the petitioners have no criminal antecedents. Besides that it is also revealed from the case diary that investigation in the present case is still going on. Learned counsel for the State opposed the prayer for anticipatory bail as the investigation is still on.

Regard being had to the nature of allegation and the fact that the petitioners have no criminal antecedents, I am inclined to grant the petitioners anticipatory bail. Accordingly, it is directed that in the event the Petitioners are arrested, they shall be released on bail by the Arresting Officer, subject to verification of criminal

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antecedents of similar nature. The release of the Petitioners shall also be subject to the condition that they shall cooperate with the investigation and shall appear before the I.O. as and when their presence is required by the I.O. for the purpose of investigation; they shall not indulge in similar criminal offences while on bail; they shall not threaten/harass/terrorize the informant in any manner whatsoever while on bail; and they 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.

The ABLAPL is accordingly disposed of.

(S.S. Mishra) Judge

AshoK

Signature Not Verified

Digitally Signed Signed by: ASHOK KUMAR JAGADEB MOHAPATRA Reason: Authentication Location: High Court of Orissa Date: 14-May-2026 19:40:25

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