Ranjan Kumar Mahanti @ Mohanty Vs State of Odisha — Anticipatory Bail | Orissa HC (2026)

Ranjan Kumar Mahanti @ Mohanty Vs State of Odisha — Anticipatory Bail | Orissa HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

The ABLAPL was disposed of with a surrender-and-bail arrangement rather than direct anticipatory bail: the Petitioner was permitted to surrender before the court in seisin (J.M.F.C., Sinapali) within 21 working days and apply for bail; the learned Magistrate was directed to consider the bail application in the first hour strictly on the materials on record; if rejected, the higher forum was to consider and dispose of it the same day in the second hour, maintaining principles of parity if applicable; the case diary was to be made available on the date of surrender on prior application, and records were to be transmitted to the higher forum at the Petitioner's cost if applied for.

Issue for consideration

Whether the Petitioner should be granted anticipatory bail under Section 482 of the B.N.S.S., 2023 for offences punishable under Sections 329(3)/296/308(2)/319(2)/204/205/351(3)/3(5) BNS in C.T. Case No.131 of 2025 (Sinapali P.S. Case No.131 of 2026).

Court's answer

Instead of granting immediate anticipatory bail, taking into consideration the nature and gravity of the allegation, the Court permitted the Petitioner to surrender before the learned court in seisin over the matter in the first hour within 21 working days and move for bail.

Ratio / Principle

On such surrender, the learned Magistrate shall consider the Petitioner's application for bail in the first hour strictly on the basis of the materials on record.

Key takeaways

If the bail application is rejected, the Petitioner may move before the higher forum in the second hour, and the higher forum shall consider and dispose of the bail application the same day strictly on the basis of the materials on record, by maintaining the principles of parity, if applicable.ratio¶23
The case diary shall be made available on the date of surrender upon an application filed by the Petitioner prior to surrender along with a copy of the order; records may be transmitted to the higher forum at the Petitioner's cost, if applied for.ratio¶24

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Anticipatory bail application (ABLAPL No.5584 of 2026) under Section 482 of the B.N.S.S., 2023 by Ranjan Kumar Mahanti @_ Mohanty, facing offences punishable under Sections 329(3)/296/308(2)/319(2)/204/205/351(3)/3(5) BNS in C.T. Case No.131 of 2025, J.M.F.C., Sinapali, arising out of Sinapali P.S. Case No.131 of 2026. Taking note of the nature and gravity of the allegation and counsel's submission that some co-accused had already been released on bail, the High Court of Orissa (A.K. Mohapatra, J.) disposed of the application on 22.05.2026 without releasing the applicant outright: he was permitted to surrender before the court in seisin within 21 working days, the Magistrate was to consider his bail application in the first hour strictly on the materials on record, and on rejection the higher forum was to consider and dispose of it the same day maintaining principles of parity, if applicable; the case diary was to be produced on surrender and records transmitted to the higher forum at the Petitioner's cost.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK ABLAPL No.5584 of 2026

Ranjan Kumar Mahanti @ ..... Mohanty

Petitioner

Represented by Adv. – Lalatendu Samantaray, Sr. Adv.

Assisted by

Anshuman Ray

-versus-

State Of Odisha

..... Opposite Parties

Represented by Adv. – U.C. Jena, A.S.C.

B.P. Das (Adv. for Informant)

CORAM:

THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ADITYA KUMAR MOHAPATRA

ORDER

22.05.2026

Order No.

1. This matter is taken up through Hybrid Arrangement (Virtual /Physical Mode).

Sri Lalatendu Samantaray, Senior Advocate enters appearance on behalf of the Petitioner in the present case by filing a memorandum in court today and the same be kept on record.

Heard learned Senior Counsel for the Petitioner and learned Additional Standing Counsel for the State and learned counsel for the Informant. Perused the Anticipatory Bail Application as well as the F.I.R.

Page 1 of 3.

This is an application under Section 482 of the B.N.S.S., 2023 filed by the Petitioner for anticipatory bail, involving offence punishable under Sections 329(3)/296/308(2)/319(2)/204/205/ 351(3)/ 3(5) of BNS in C.T. Case No.131 of 2025 in the Court of learned J.M.F.C., Sinapali arising out of Sinapali P.S. Case No.131 of 2026.

It is stated by learned Senior Counsel for the Petitioner that in the meantime some of the co-accused persons have already been released on bail pursuant to the order passed by a Coordinate Bench by the learned trial court.

Taking into consideration the nature and gravity of the allegation, on the request of learned Senior Counsel for the Petitioner, the Petitioner is permitted to surrender before the learned court in seisin over the matter in the aforesaid case in the first hour within 21 working days hence and move for bail. On such event, the learned Magistrate shall consider his application for bail in the first hour strictly on the basis of the materials on record. In case of rejection of the bail application, the Petitioner may move for bail before the higher forum in the second hour. On such event, the higher forum shall consider and dispose of the bail application of the Petitioner the same day strictly on the basis of the materials on record, by maintaining the principles of parity, if applicable.

The case diary be made available on the date of surrender on an application being filed by the Petitioner prior to his date of surrender along with a copy of today’s order. Records be transmitted to the higher forum at the cost of the Petitioner, if applied for.

Page 2 of 3.

Anil

The ABLAPL is disposed of accordingly.

Urgent certified copy of this order be granted as per rules.

( A.K. Mohapatra) Judge

Signature Not Verified Page 3 of 3.

Digitally Signed Signed by: ANIL KUMAR SAHOO Designation: Junior Stenographer Reason: Authentication Location: High Court of Orissa Date: 24-May-2026 16:40:29