Chittaranjan Das @ Satka Vs State of Odisha — Orissa HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Chittaranjan Das @ Satka Vs State of Odisha — Orissa HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Pre-arrest bail not granted; Petitioner permitted to surrender before J.M.F.C.(R), Balasore within one month, with assured consideration of the bail motion on merits in the first hour, recourse to a higher forum in the second hour on the same day upon rejection, and an endeavour by the higher forum to dispose of the application the same day, subject to verification of criminal antecedents.

Issue for consideration

Whether pre-arrest bail should be granted to the Petitioner in connection with C.T. Case No.1005/2019 (arising out of Khantapada P.S. Case No.296 of 2019) for offences punishable under Section 52(a) of the Orissa Excise Act, 2008.

Court's answer

Taking into account the nature of allegation, this Court is not inclined to entertain the application for pre-arrest bail.

Ratio / Principle

The Petitioner is directed to surrender before the learned J.M.F.C.(R), Balasore within one month; on surrender and motion, bail is to be considered on merits in the first hour of the day; upon rejection, the Petitioner may move the higher forum in the second hour on the same day, which is requested to endeavour to dispose of the bail application the same day, with the case diary made available and the case record transmitted expeditiously.

Key takeaways

Ground of parity, if any, may be considered by the learned court(s) below; the forums below are requested to verify the criminal antecedents of the Petitioner, and if it comes to the fore that the Petitioner has more than one criminal antecedent of similar nature, this order shall not be given effect.ratio¶21

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Orissa at Cuttack (Justice V. Narasingh), ABLAPL No. 2602 of 2026, Order dated 22.04.2026: Chittaranjan Das @ Satka sought pre-arrest bail in connection with C.T. Case No.1005/2019, arising out of Khantapada P.S. Case No.296 of 2019, pending before learned J.M.F.C.(R), Balasore, for offences punishable under Section 52(a) of the Orissa Excise Act, 2008. Taking into account the nature of allegation, the Court declined to entertain the pre-arrest bail application, but directed the Petitioner to surrender before the J.M.F.C.(R), Balasore within one month, with any bail motion to be considered on merits in the first hour of the day; upon rejection, the Petitioner may approach a higher forum in the second hour on the same day, which was requested to endeavour to dispose of the bail application the same day, with the case diary made available and the case record transmitted expeditiously. Ground of parity, if any, may be considered by the courts below; criminal antecedents are to be verified, and if more than one criminal antecedent of similar nature comes to the fore, the order shall not be given effect. The ABLAPL stands disposed of.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No. 2602 of 2026

Chittaranjan Das @ Satka

…. Petitioner

Mr. A.R. Panda, Advocate

-versus-

State of Odisha

…. Opposite Party

Mr. A.K. Pati, ASC

CORAM: JUSTICE V. NARASINGH ORDER 22.04.2026

Order No.

01. 1. Heard learned counsel for the Petitioner and learned counsel for the State.

The Petitioner is seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with C.T. Case No.1005/2019 pending on the file of learned J.M.F.C.(R), Balasore, arising out of Khantapada P.S. Case No.296 of 2019 for commission of offences punishable under Section 52(a) of The Orissa Excise Act. 2008.

Learned counsel for the State opposes the prayer for pre-arrest bail.

Taking into account the nature of allegation, this Court is not inclined to entertain the application for pre-arrest bail. However, it is directed that the Petitioner may surrender before the learned J.M.F.C.(R), Balasore in connection with the aforementioned case within one month from today.

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In the event of his surrender and motion for bail, the same be considered by the learned J.M.F.C.(R), Balasore on merits, in the first hour of the day.

In the event of rejection of the prayer for bail by the learned J.M.F.C.(R), Balasore, the Petitioner is at liberty to move the higher forum for bail in the second hour on the same day.

On being so moved, the higher forum is requested to make an endeavor to dispose of the bail application of the Petitioner on the same day.

The case diary shall be made available to the concerned courts to facilitate disposal of the bail application of the Petitioner and learned J.M.F.C.(R), Balasore is called upon to transmit the case record to the higher forum in the second hour expeditiously in the event of rejection of the bail application by him.

Ground of parity, if any, may be considered by the learned court(s) below. The forums below are requested to verify the criminal antecedents of the Petitioner.

If it comes to the fore that the Petitioner has more than one criminal antecedent of similar nature, this order shall not be given effect to.

Accordingly, the ABLAPL stands disposed of.

U.C.C. as per rules.

(V. NARASINGH) Judge

Signature Not VerifiedJina

Digitally Signed Signed by: JINA DIGAL Reason: Authentication Location: High Court of Orissa Date: 24-Apr-2026 14:31:09

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