Bikram Keshari Khatei Vs State of Odisha — Dowry and Cruelty | Orissa HC (2026)

Bikram Keshari Khatei Vs State of Odisha — Dowry and Cruelty | Orissa HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Anticipatory bail refused; liberty granted to surrender before the Court below within two weeks and to move for bail, with release on bail on terms fixed by the Court below, including personal appearance before the trial Court on each posting date without seeking representation.

Issue for consideration

Whether anticipatory bail should be granted to the petitioner apprehending arrest in Mahila P.S. Case No. 134 of 2025 / G.R. Case No. 3101 of 2025 (SDJM, Berhampur) for alleged offences under Sections 115(2)/296/351(2)/85 of the B.N.S. read with Section 4 of the D.P. Act, 1961.

Court's answer

Having considered the materials and submissions and the nature of accusations, the Court is not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

Ratio / Principle

The ABLAPL is disposed of with liberty to the petitioner to surrender before the Court below within two weeks of receiving the certified copy of the order and to move for bail.

Key takeaways

On surrender and application, the petitioner shall be released on bail on such terms and conditions as the Court below may deem fit and proper.ratio¶¶20
Release on bail is to include the condition that the petitioner personally appear before the Court seized of the matter on each date of posting of the case, without seeking representation.ratio¶¶20

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Orissa at Cuttack (Sashikanta Mishra, J.), by order dated 21.04.2026 in ABLAPL No. 2389 of 2026, declined anticipatory bail to Bikram Keshari Khatei, who apprehended arrest in Mahila P.S. Case No. 134 of 2025 corresponding to G.R. Case No. 3101 of 2025 pending before the learned SDJM, Berhampur, for alleged offences under Sections 115(2)/296/351(2)/85 of the B.N.S. read with Section 4 of the D.P. Act, 1961 — the informant being the petitioner's wife, who alleged physical and mental cruelty in connection with a demand for dowry and thereafter resided at her parental home. Considering the nature of the accusations, the Court disposed of the application granting liberty to surrender before the Court below within two weeks of receipt of the certified copy and to move for bail, directing that on such surrender he be released on bail on terms deemed fit by the Court below, including the condition that he personally appear before the Court in seisin of the matter on each posting date without seeking representation.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK

ABLAPL No. 2389 of 2026

Bikram Keshari Khatei

…. Petitioner

Mr. A.Tripathy, Advocate

-Versus -

State of Odisha

…. Opposite Party

Ms. J.Sahoo, ASC

CORAM: JUSTICE SASHIKANTA MISHRA

ORDER_ 21.04.2026

Order No. 01.

This matter is taken up through hybrid mode.

Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Addl. Standing counsel for the State.

The petitioner is apprehending arrest in connection with Mahila P.S. Case No. 134 of 2025 corresponding to G.R. Case No. 3101 of 2025 pending in the Court of the learned SDJM, Berhampur for the alleged commission of offence under Sections 115(2)/296/351(2)/85 of the B.N.S., read with Section 4 of the D.P. Act, 1961.

It is alleged that the petitioner being the husband of the informant subjected her to physical and mental cruelty in connection with demand for dowry. As a result, the informant returned to her parental home and has been residing there till date.

Perused the materials of the case as are available in the case

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diary and also considered the submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioner.

Considering the same and the nature of accusations, I am not inclined to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner. The ABLAPL is however, disposed of granting liberty to the petitioner to surrender before the Court below within two weeks from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order and to move for bail. In such event, he shall be released on bail on such terms and conditions as the Court below may deem fit and proper including the condition that he shall personally appear before the Court in seisin over the matter on each date of the posting of the case without seeking representation.

The ABLAPL is accordingly disposed of.

Issue urgent certified copy as per rules.

( Sashikanta Mishra) Judge

deepak

Signature Not Verified

Digitally Signed Signed by: DEEPAK PARIDA Reason: Authentication Location: OHC,Cuttack Date: 21-Apr-2026 19:08:24

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