Asirvad Micro Finance Ltd.,Balasore Vs State of Odisha — Cheating and Forgery | Orissa HC (2026)

Asirvad Micro Finance Ltd.,Balasore Vs State of Odisha — Cheating and Forgery | Orissa HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No direction issued; CRLMP disposed of with an observation that the charge sheet may be submitted after the Area Head and Branch Manager of Asirbad Micro Finance Limited appear in the police station for the purpose of investigation.

Issue for consideration

Whether the investigation in Gopalpur PS Case No. 181 of 2024 was progressing properly and whether any direction was required to be issued in the CRLMP.

Court's answer

Since investigation in the case appeared to be progressing properly after being taken over by Mr. C.S. Mohanty, SI of Police, no direction was required to be issued and the CRLMP is disposed of.

Key takeaways

Observation appended to the disposal that the charge sheet may be submitted after the Area Head and Branch Manager of Asirbad Micro Finance Limited appear in the police station for the purpose of investigation.obiter¶16

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Criminal miscellaneous petition (CRLMP No. 1691 of 2025, High Court of Orissa at Cuttack, decided 26.02.2026 by Hon'ble Miss Justice Savitri Ratho) filed by Asirvad Micro Finance Ltd., Gopalpur Branch, Balasore, against the State of Odisha, the IIC, Gopalpur PS, and Biswajit Biswal, relating to investigation in Gopalpur PS Case No. 181 of 2024. Pursuant to an order dated 19.02.2026, the Additional Standing Counsel produced the case diary, which showed the present I.O. (Mr. C.S. Mohanty, SI of Police) took charge on 26.12.2025, examined several persons including Pankajini Das and, on 23.02.2026, Pramod Biswal, Bhabani Palei, Bidyadhar Sethi and Mina Biswal; he made repeated unsuccessful attempts to examine the Branch Head (Satya Sundar Mandal) and Area Head (Kuber Muduli) of Asirbad Micro Finance Limited and sought CDR of Mobile No. 9777948251 from the SP, Balasore. The diary records that accused Biswajit Biswal surrendered before the learned SDJM(Rural), Balasore on 02.12.2025, was released on bail as per a High Court order in ABLAPL No. 10710, that an offence under Section 318(4)/316(4) of the BNS is made out against him, and that a detailed investigation report has been submitted to the SDPO, Sadar Balasore for submitting the charge sheet. Petitioner's counsel undertook to have the Branch Manager and Area Head contact the I.O. within one week. Finding the investigation progressing properly under the new I.O., the Court issued no further direction and disposed of the CRLMP, observing that the charge sheet may be submitted after the Area Head and Branch Manager appear in the police station for investigation.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK CRLMP No. 1691 of 2025

Asirvad Micro Finance Ltd., ….. Petitioner Gopalpur Branch, Balasore

Mr. Manas Ranjan Pradhan, Advocate

-versus-

1. State of Odisha Opp. Parties 2. IIC, Gopalpur PS ….. Mr. Sarathi Jyoti Mohanty, 3. Biswajit Biswal A.S.C.

CORAM:

HON’BLE MISS JUSTICE SAVITRI RATHO ORDER

26.02.2026

Order No. 06.

(Through hybrid Mode)

Pursuant to order dated 19.02.2026, Mr. S. J. Mohanty, learned Additional Standing Counsel has produced the up to date case diary in Gopalpur PS Case No. 181 of 2024.

Perusal of the case diary reveals that the present IO has taken charge of the investigation on 26.12.2025. Thereafter, he has examined one Pankajini Das. On 29.12.2025, he had tried to contact Mr. Satya Sundar Mandal at present Branch Head of Asirbad Micro Finance Limited and Kuber Muduli, at present Area Head of Asirbad Micro Finance Limited, but could not find them for examination. On 15.01.2026 he again made an attempt to contact the area head of Asirbad Micro Finance Limited, but the latter could not come to Gopalpur for examination. On 23.01.2026, he had gone to the Asirbad Micro Finance Limited office at Gopalpur along with his staff to contact the area head, but could not contact him as he could not remain present in Gopalpur for examination. He has also made prayer to the SP, Balasore to provide him CDR of Mobile No. 9777948251 from 01.12.2025 till date. On 23.02.2026, he has

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examined one Pramod Biswal, Bhabani Palei, Bidyadhar Sethi and Smt. Mina Biswal, w/o- Pramod Biswal, who has stated that the accused Biswajit Biswal surrendered in the Court of the learned SDJM(Rural), Balasore in the month of December and has been released on bail as per order of the Hon’ble High Court of Odisha. On 24.02.2026, he verified from the CSI Sadar Court, Balasore that Biswajit Biswal has surrendered in the Court of the learned SDJM(Rural), Balasore on 02.12.2025 and had been released on bail as per order of the High Court in ABLAPL No. 10710. On the same date, it is stated in the case diary that offence under Section 318(4)/316(4) of the BNS is made out against accused Biswajit Biswal, for which detail investigation report has been submitted to the SDPO, Sadar Balasore for submitting charge sheet.

Mr. M. R. Pradhan, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that he shall inform the Brach Manager as well as the Area Head of Asirbad Micro Finance Limited to contact Mr. C.S. Mohanty, the I.O in this case for the purpose of investigation within one week from today.

In view of the above development and as it appears that investigation in this case is progressing properly after it was taken over by Mr. C.S. Mohanty, SI of Police, no direction is required to be issued for which the CRLMP is disposed of with the aforesaid observation that charge sheet may be submitted after the Area Head and Branch Manager of Asirbad Micro Finance Limited appear in the police station for the purpose of investigation.

Subhalaxmi Signature Not Verified

Digitally Signed Signed by: SUBHALAXMI PRIYADARSHANI SAHOO Reason: Authentication Location: Orissa High Court, Cuttack Date: 27-Feb-2026 19:46:47

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