Banti @ Manish Maharana Vs State of Odisha — Anticipatory Bail | Orissa HC (2026)

Banti @ Manish Maharana Vs State of Odisha — Anticipatory Bail | Orissa HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Pre-arrest bail declined; petitioners directed to surrender before learned J.M.F.C., Ranpur within a fortnight and, upon surrender, to be released on bail in G.R. Case No.14 of 2026 on bail bonds of Rs.50,000/- each with one solvent surety for the like amount, subject to stringent conditions (no involvement in similar incidents while on bail; cooperation with the I.O.), with liberty to the court below to impose further suitable conditions.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioners are entitled to pre-arrest (anticipatory) bail under Section 482 BNSS in connection with Ranpur P.S. Case No.07 of 2026 / G.R. Case No.14 of 2026 pending before learned J.M.F.C., Ranpur.

Court's answer

Considering the above facts, the simple (non-grievous) nature of the victim's injury, the impression that the investigation must have progressed to a considerable extent, and notwithstanding one petitioner's antecedents, this Court was not inclined to grant pre-arrest bail to any of the petitioners, but directed that they surrender before the learned court below for release with stringent conditions imposed.

Ratio / Principle

The ABLAPL petitions stand disposed of with a direction to the petitioners to surrender before learned J.M.F.C., Ranpur within a fortnight; on surrender in compliance thereof, they shall be released on bail in connection with G.R. Case No.14 of 2026 on furnishing bail bonds of Rs.50,000/- (rupees fifty thousand) each with one solvent surety for the like amount each, to the satisfaction of the court below.

Key takeaways

Stringent bail conditions imposed: none of the petitioners shall involve in similar incidents while on bail and each shall cooperate with the I.O. in the investigation as and when summoned; the court below shall be at liberty to impose such other suitable conditions as deemed just and proper.ratio¶33

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Anticipatory bail (pre-arrest bail) — Section 482 BNSS — Common order disposing ABLAPL No.793 of 2026 (Banti @Manish Maharana & another) and ABLAPL No.800 of 2026 (Manti@Satish Maharana & another) arising out of Ranpur P.S. Case No.07 of 2026 / G.R. Case No.14 of 2026 (registered under Section 109(1) BNS with allied offences) pending before learned J.M.F.C., Ranpur — Victim/informant Bijay Kumar Pandi sustained a simple lacerated wound; assault by pistol without gunshot fire; petitioner in ABLAPL No.793 of 2026 shown to have three other criminal cases (acquittal claimed in two) — Weighing the simple nature of injury and presumed progress of investigation against the antecedents, the Court declined pre-arrest bail but directed surrender before learned J.M.F.C., Ranpur within a fortnight and release on bail on furnishing bail bonds of Rs.50,000/- each with one solvent surety for the like amount, conditioned on abstention from similar incidents and cooperation with the Investigating Officer, with liberty to the court below to impose further suitable conditions. (R.K. Pattanaik, J.)

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK

ABLAPL No.793 of 2026

Banti @Manish Maharana & …. another

Petitioners

Mr. J. Behera, Advocate

-Versus-

State of Odisha

…. Opposite Party

Mr. M.K. Mohanty, ASC

A N D

ABLAPL No.800 of 2026

Manti@Satish Maharana & another

Petitioners

Mr. J. Behera, Advocate

-Versus-

State of Odisha

…. Opposite Party

Mr. M.K. Mohanty, ASC

CORAM:

MR. JUSTICE R.K. PATTANAIK

ORDER

26.02.2026

Order No.

Both the ABLAPLs are taken up together and disposed of by the following common order.

Instant petitions have been filed under Section 482 BNSS by the petitioners seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with Ranpur P.S. Case No.07 of 2026 corresponding to G.R. Case No.14 of 2026 pending in the court of learned J.M.F.C., Ranpur on the grounds stated therein.

Perused the FIR as at Annexure-1. A case under Section 109(1) BNS has been registered with other allied offences in

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respect of the alleged incident. On a reading of Annexure-1, the Court finds that the petitioners did the mischief and caused a head injury to the informant, who was medically examined on police requisition. The case diary is produced by learned counsel for the State along with the injury report. The said report reveals that the victim, namely, Bijay Kumar Pandi received a lacerated wound stated to be simple in nature. The assault was by means of a pistol but not with a gunshot fire. The petitioner in ABLAPL No.793 of 2026 is shown to have three other criminal cases but is claimed that in two out of three, the petitioner has been acquitted of the charges levelled. The details of the circumstances leading to the alleged assault have been described by the witnesses examined during investigation under Section 180 BNSS. Considering the above facts and submissions of learned counsel for the respective parties and though one of the petitioners having antecedents but in so far as the injury is concerned, the victim received a simple one and not grievous, under the impression that the investigation must have progressed to a considerable extent, this Court, though, not inclined to grant any of them pre-arrest bail, but is of the view that they should be directed to surrender before the learned court below for being released with stringent conditions imposed.

4. Accordingly, it is ordered.

In the result, the ABLAPL petitions stand disposed of with a direction to the petitioners to surrender before learned J.M.F.C., Ranpur within a fortnight from today and in the event, they surrender in compliance thereof, shall be released

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on bail in connection with G.R. Case No.14 of 2026 on furnishing bail bonds of Rs.50,000/- (rupees fifty thousand) each with one solvent surety for the like amount each to the satisfaction of the court below, which shall be at liberty to impose such other suitable conditions as deemed just and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case besides the following, such as, none of them shall involve in similar incidents, while on bail and to cooperate the I.O in the investigation as and when summoned.

6. Issue urgent certified copy of this order as per rules.

(R.K. Pattanaik) Judge

Balaram

Signature Not Verified

Digitally Signed Signed by: BALARAM BEHERA Designation: PERSONAL ASSISTANT Reason: Authentication Location: OHC, CUTTACK Date: 27-Feb-2026 12:03:28

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