Puspalata Das Vs State of Odisha(Vig.) — Corruption | Orissa HC (2026)

Puspalata Das Vs State of Odisha(Vig.) — Corruption | Orissa HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Anticipatory (pre-arrest) bail: release on bail by the Arresting Officer upon arrest, subject to cooperation with investigation, appearance when summoned, no departure from the State of Odisha without the Court's permission, surrender of passport (if any) till the final form, and permission for interim travel.

Issue for consideration

Whether the Petitioner, cited as an accused in Bhubaneswar Vigilance P.S. Case No.02 of 2026 / V.G.R. Case No.03 of 2026 (Section 7, Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988) solely as the spouse of the principal accused, should be granted pre-arrest (anticipatory) bail.

Court's answer

In the event of arrest of the Petitioner in connection with the aforesaid case, she shall be released on bail by the Arresting Officer on terms and conditions deemed just and proper, with the further condition that she cooperate with the investigation.

Ratio / Principle

Conditions imposed: the Petitioner shall appear as and when summoned; shall not leave the State of Odisha without the specific permission of the learned Court in seisin; shall submit her passport, if any, to that Court till the conclusion of investigation (to be returned on submission of the final form); and shall obtain the Court's permission for any interim travel.

Key takeaways

The Investigating Agency is directed to be conscious, while summoning the Petitioner, that she is a lady.obiter¶20

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Anticipatory bail - disposed favourably by order dated 05.05.2026 (ABLAPL No. 2842 of 2026, High Court of Orissa at Cuttack, Justice V. Narasingh). The petitioner, cited as an accused in Bhubaneswar Vigilance P.S. Case No.02 of 2026 / V.G.R. Case No.03 of 2026 (Section 7, Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 as amended by the P.C (Amendment) Act, 2018) pending before the Special Judge (Vigilance), Bhubaneswar, solely as the spouse of the principal accused - who had already been directed to be released by order dated 01.05.2026 - is to be released on bail by the Arresting Officer in the event of arrest, on terms deemed just and proper, conditioned on cooperation with the investigation, appearance as and when summoned, no departure from Odisha without the Court in seisin's specific permission, surrender of passport (if any) till the final form, and permission for interim travel. The Court also corrected the case number mis-stated in the application recitals (Vigilance P.S. Case No.01 of 2026 corrected to No.02 of 2026) and reminded the Investigating Agency, while summoning her, that she is a lady.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No. 2842 of 2026

Puspalata Das

…. Petitioner

Mr. M.K. Chand, Advocate

-versus-

State of Odisha …. Opposite Party (Vigilance)

Mr. M.S. Rizvi, Advocate

CORAM: JUSTICE V. NARASINGH ORDER 05.05.2026

Order No.

03. 1. At the outset, learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that, inadvertently, the description of the case number has been wrongly stated in the recitals of the application as “Vigilance P.S. Case No.01 of 2026” corresponding to “V.G.R. Case No.03 of 2026” instead of the Petitioner is cited as an accused in “Vigilance P.S. Case No.02 of 2026” corresponding to “V.G.R. Case No.03 of 2026” on the file of learned Special Judge (Vigilance), Bhubaneswar. Taking note of the same, the case number be treated as “Vigilance P.S. Case No.02 of 2026” corresponding to “V.G.R. Case No.03 of 2026”. 2. Heard learned counsel for the Petitioner and learned counsel for the State.

The Petitioner is seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with V.G.R. Case No.03 of 2026 pending on the file of learned Special Judge (Vigilance),

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Bhubaneswar, arising out of Bhubaneswar Vigilance P.S. Case No.02 of 2026 for commission of offence punishable under Section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 as Amended by P.C (Amendment) Act, 2018.

It is submitted by the learned counsel that the Petitioner is cited as accused only because she is the spouse of the principal accused and it is stated that in the meanwhile by order dated 01.05.2026, the principal accused has been directed to be released. It is further submitted by the learned counsel that there is no chance of the Petitioner absconding and more so since she is a lady, she may be protected by prearrest bail.

Such submission is opposed by the learned counsel for the Vigilance Department. 6. Considering the nature of allegations and relationship of the Petitioner with principal accused, it is directed that in the event of arrest of the Petitioner, in connection with the aforesaid case, she shall be released on bail by the Arresting Officer on such terms and conditions deemed just and proper with further conditions that she will cooperate with the investigation.

Additionally, it is directed that the Petitioner shall appear as and when summoned and shall not leave the State of Odisha without its specific permission of the learned Court in seisin. The

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Petitioner shall also submit her passport, if any, before the learned Court in seisin till the conclusion of investigation. The same shall be returned to her on the submission of the final form.

If in between the Petitioner is required to travel, she shall obtain necessary permission in this regard from the learned Court in seisin, as noted hereinabove.

Accordingly, the ABLAPL stands disposed of. 9. It is needless to state that the Investigating Agency shall be conscious of the fact while summoning the Petitioner that she is a lady.

(V. NARASINGH) Judge

Soumya

Signature Not Verified

Digitally Signed Signed by: SOUMYA RANJAN SAMAL Designation: Jr. Stenographer Reason: Authentication Location: High Court of Orissa Date: 06-May-2026 20:17:46

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