Srikrushna @ Srikrishna Pradhani Vs State of Odisha — Narcotics (NDPS) | Orissa HC (2026)

Srikrushna @ Srikrishna Pradhani Vs State of Odisha — Narcotics (NDPS) | Orissa HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Petitioner admitted to bail on furnishing bail bonds of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One lakh) with two solvent sureties each for the like amount, to the satisfaction of the learned Court in seisin of the case, on such terms and conditions as deemed fit and proper by it; BLAPL stands disposed of.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner, facing charges under S. 20(b)(ii)(C) of NDPS Act in CT Case No.59 of 2025 (Balliguda PS Case No.59 of 2025) for alleged possession of 96 Kgs and 850 Grams of contraband ganja (commercial quantity) in his house, satisfies the conditions of Sec. 37 of NDPS Act so as to be admitted to bail under S. 483 of BNSS Act.

Court's answer

Although there appears allegation against the petitioner for possessing commercial quantity of Contraband Ganja in his house, he was neither found in his house at the time of the raid nor was the house in open condition; it was locked from outside.

Ratio / Principle

The so-called contraband article was found from the roof top of the house stated to be of the petitioner.

Key takeaways

On being asked, the IIC, Balliguda PS reported that the petitioner is not having any criminal antecedent of similar nature.ratio¶¶18
The petitioner voluntarily surrendered in the Court on 18.11.2025.ratio¶¶18
In the aforesaid facts and circumstances and on the material placed on record, the Court considers that the petitioner has satisfied the conditions of Sec. 37 of NDPS Act, which is the sine qua non for grant of bail to an accused for commission of offences under the NDPS Act.ratio

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

BAIL UNDER S. 483 BNSS — NDPS OFFENCE — SEC. 37 CONDITIONS — High Court of Orissa at Cuttack (G. Satapathy, J.), oral order dated 12.05.2026 in BLAPL No.12799 of 2025: Petitioner, accused in Balliguda PS Case No.59 of 2025 / CT Case No.59 of 2025 before the learned Addl. Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge, Balliguda, for offences punishable under S. 20(b)(ii)(C) of NDPS Act on the main allegation of possessing 96 Kgs and 850 Grams of contraband ganja in his house, admitted to bail. Held: though a commercial quantity was allegedly in his house, the petitioner was neither found in the house at the raid nor was the house open — it was locked from outside — and the contraband was recovered from the roof top of the house stated to be of the petitioner; the IIC, Balliguda PS reported no criminal antecedent of similar nature; the petitioner had voluntarily surrendered in Court on 18.11.2025 and was in pre-trial custody. Concluding that the conditions of Sec. 37 of NDPS Act — the sine qua non for bail under the NDPS Act — were satisfied, the Court allowed bail without expressing any view on merits, on bail bonds of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One lakh) with two solvent sureties of like amount; BLAPL disposed of.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK

BLAPL No.12799 of 2025

Srikrushna @ Srikrishna Pradhani

Petitioner

Mr. M. Das, Advocate

-versus-

State of Odisha

… Opposite Party

Mr. S.C. Pradhan, Addl. PP

Order No.

03.

CORAM:JUSTICE G. SATAPATHY ORDER(ORAL): 12.05.2026

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

This is an application U/S.483 of BNSS Act by the petitioner for grant of bail in connection with Balliguda PS Case No.59 of 2025 corresponding to CT Case No.59 of 2025 pending in the Court of learned Addl. Sessions Judge-cumSpecial Judge, Balliguda for commission of offences punishable U/S. 20(b)(ii)(C) of NDPS Act, on the main allegation of possessing 96Kgs and 850Grams of contraband ganja in his house.

Heard, Mr. Mahes Das, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. S.C. Pradhan, learned Addl. Public Prosecutor in the matter and perused the record.

After having considered the rival submission upon perusal of record, although there appears allegation against the petitioner for possessing commercial quantity of Contraband Ganja in his house, but neither he was found in his house at the time of raid nor was the house in question in open condition at the time of raid, rather it was locked from outside and the so called contraband article was found from the roof top of the house stated to be of the petitioner. Further, the IIC, Balliguda PS on being asked has reported that the petitioner is

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not having any criminal antecedent of similar nature. Besides, the petitioner has voluntarily surrendered in the Court on 18.11.2025. In the aforesaid facts and circumstances and taking into account the material so placed on record, this Court considers that the petitioner has satisfied the Conditions of Sec.37 of NDPS Act, which is sine qua non for grant of bail to an accused for commission of offences under NDPS Act.

For the reason stated hereinabove and taking into account the pre-trial detention of the petitioner in custody, this Court without expressing any view on merit admits the petitioner to bail

Hence, the bail application of the petitioner stands allowed and the petitioner is allowed to go on bail on furnishing bail bonds of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One lakh) only with two solvent sureties each for the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned Court in seisin of the case on such terms and conditions as deem fit and proper by it.

Accordingly, the BLAPL stands disposed of.

Issue urgent certified copy of the order as per Rules. A soft copy of this order be immediately communicated to the concerned Court, who shall afterwards communicate the same to the concerned Jail through e-mail for reference.

(G. Satapathy) Judge

Jayakrushna

Signature Not Verified

Digitally Signed Signed by: JAYAKRUSHNA DASH Reason: Authentication Location: High Court of Orissa, C utta ck Date: 13-May-2026 12:24:42

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