Ranjan Das Vs State of Odisha — Anticipatory Bail | Orissa HC (2026)

Ranjan Das Vs State of Odisha — Anticipatory Bail | Orissa HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Pre-arrest bail not granted; petitioners directed to surrender within a fortnight before the learned S.D.J.M., Balasore and seek regular bail (to be considered in the first hour), with recourse to the learned Sessions Court in the second hour on the same day upon rejection, considering plea of parity; urgent certified copy as per rules.

Issue for consideration

Whether pre-arrest (anticipatory) bail under Section 482 BNSS should be granted to the petitioners in connection with Sahadevkhunta P.S. Case No.400 of 2025 / C.T. Case No.935 of 2025 pending before learned S.D.J.M., Balasore.

Court's answer

Given the petitioners' antecedents and the earlier order in ABLAPL No.6133 of 2026, this Court was not inclined to reconsider the bail plea and directed the petitioners to surrender before the learned court below seeking regular bail.

Ratio / Principle

The petitioners were directed to surrender within a fortnight before the learned S.D.J.M., Balasore in connection with the said case.

Key takeaways

On surrender, an application for regular bail moved by the petitioners shall be duly considered in the first hour.ratio¶22
In case of rejection of regular bail, the petitioners are allowed to approach the learned Sessions Court during the second hour on the same day, considering their plea of parity.ratio¶22
For the said purpose, the lower court case record shall be made available at the time of hearing.ratio

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Orissa at Cuttack, ABLAPL No.4018 of 2026 — Ranjan Das & another v. State of Odisha; order dated 15.07.2026 by R.K. Pattanaik, J. Application under Section 482 BNSS for pre-arrest bail in connection with Sahadevkhunta P.S. Case No.400 of 2025 corresponding to C.T. Case No.935 of 2025 pending before learned S.D.J.M., Balasore. The petitioners had earlier approached the Court in ABLAPL No.6133 of 2026 (disposed of on 12th June, 2026), where they were directed to surrender and go on bail subject to conditions and verification of criminal antecedents; the connected ABLAPL No.7711 of 2026 stood not pressed. Counsel noted that co-accused persons had already been released on bail. Considering the earlier order and that the petitioners are having antecedents, the Court declined to reconsider the bail plea and disposed of the application, directing surrender within a fortnight before the learned S.D.J.M., Balasore; any regular-bail application to be duly considered in the first hour, and upon rejection the petitioners may approach the learned Sessions Court during the second hour the same day considering their plea of parity, with the lower court case record made available at the time of hearing. Urgent certified copy as per rules.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK

ABLAPL No.4018 of 2026

Ranjan Das & another

…. Petitioners

Mr. D. Sahoo, Advocate

-Versus-

State of Odisha

…. Opposite Party

Ms. Babita Sahu, AGA

CORAM:

MR. JUSTICE R.K. PATTANAIK

ORDER

15.07.2026

Order No.

Heard learned counsel for the respective parties.

Instant petition under Section 482 BNSS is filed for pre-arrest bail of the petitioners in connection with Sahadevkhunta P.S. Case No.400 of 2025 corresponding to C.T. Case No.935 of 2025 pending in the file of learned S.D.J.M., Balasore on the grounds stated therein.

Perused the FIR as at Annexure-1. This Court finds that the petitioners had earlier approached this Court vide ABLAPL No.6133 of 2026 disposed of on 12^th June, 2026 as at Flag-A to the connected ABLAPL No.7711 of 2026, which is not pressed. Recorded the objection of the State. From the ABLAPL (supra), it is made to understand that the petitioner and another accused were directed to surrender and to go on bail subject to conditions and verification of criminal antecedents. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the co-accused persons have already been released on bail. Considering the above

Page 1 of 2

submission and the earlier order in the ABLAPL (supra) and the petitioners are having antecedents, this Court is not inclined to reconsider any such bail plea, however, directs them to surrender before the learned court below seeking regular bail.

4. Accordingly, it is ordered.

In the result, ABLAPL is disposed of. It is further directed that in the event, the petitioners surrender within a fortnight from today before the learned S.D.J.M., Balasore in connection with Sahadevkhunta P.S. Case No.400 of 2025 corresponding to C.T. Case No.935 of 2025 and move an application for regular bail, it shall be duly considered in the first hour and in case of rejection, are allowed to approach the learned Sessions Court during the second hour for orders on the same day considering their plea of parity and for the said purpose, the lower court case record shall be made available at the time of hearing.

6. Issue urgent certified copy as per rules.

(R.K. Pattanaik) Judge

Alok

Signature Not Verified

Digitally Signed Signed by: ALOK RANJAN SETHY Reason: Authentication Location: ORISSA HIGH COURT Date: 20-Jul-2026 15:51:56

Page 2 of 2