Ashirbad Pradhan v. State of Odisha
Case brief
What is this about?
High Court of Orissa at Cuttack, BLAPL No.12244 of 2025, oral order dated 07.03.2026 by Justice G. Satapathy: bail application of Ashirbad Pradhan under S.483 BNSS rejected. Underlying case: Banpur PS Case No.54 of 2023 / ST Case No.98 of 2023 (GR Case No.58 of 2023) before the 1st Additional Sessions Judge, Khordha; charges U/Ss.364-A/364/302/201 IPC for abduction of the victim for ransom of Rs.5,00,000/- and murder. Trial advanced with 25 witnesses examined; dead body allegedly recovered from a well in the petitioner's house premises; Apex Court ruling in X Vrs. State of Rajasthan (2024) SCC Online SC 3539 relied upon. Counsel: B.P. Tripathy (Sr. Advocate) with P. Agrawal for the petitioner; P. Satpathy, Addl. PP for the State.
What did the court decide?
Bail refused: though counsel contended that none of the witnesses had specifically deposed against the petitioner, the Court — avoiding detailed merits analysis as inappropriate at the bail stage — took into account the substantial progress of the trial (25 witnesses examined), the allegation of abduction for ransom and murder, the materials on record including recovery of the dead body allegedly from a well located in the premises of the petitioner's house, and the law laid down by the Apex Court in X Vrs. State of Rajasthan (2024) SCC Online SC 3539, and declined bail.