Disposed¶29

Informant v. State of Odisha

Orissa HC13 May 2026CRLMP/410/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Orissa High Court at Cuttack; CRLMP No. 410 of 2026; Savitri Ratho, J.; order dated 13.05.2026; informant-petitioner; B.K. Nayak, Adv.; State of Odisha, DGP Odisha, SP Bhadrak, IIC Bhandaripokhari Police Station; Ashok Kumar Apat, AGA; Bhandaripokhari P.S. Case No.510 of 2025; Special Case No. 145 of 2025; absconding accused Srikanta Behera; investigation status; coercive process; CDR details; victim denial of threat or intimidation; no complaint after 27.04.2026 order; 30 days' time sought; disposal of CRLMP; change of Investigating Officer; SP Bhadrak.

What did the court decide?

CRLMP disposed of with the expectation that the absconding accused (Srikanta Behera) will be apprehended within a month; if he is not apprehended within thirty days, the petitioner may approach the Superintendent of Police, Bhadrak to change the Investigating Officer.

Informant Vs State of Odisha — Orissa HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the Court should direct opposite party Nos. 3 and 4 to properly investigate and close the investigation in connection with Bhandaripokhari P.S. Case No.510 of 2025 (Special Case No. 145 of 2025). +2 more

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Court's answer

In view of the prayer of the I.I.C., the CRLMP is disposed of with the expectation that the accused will be apprehended within a month.

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Ratio / Principle

It is apparent from the submission of the learned counsel for the Petitioner and the instructions of the I.I.C., Bhandaripokhari Police Station that no complaint or report regarding threats or intimidation had been submitted by the victim or her family after the order passed by this Court on 27.04.2026.

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Key takeaways

In view of the prayer of the I.I.C., Bhandaripokhari Police Station for allowing thirty days for apprehending the accused Srikanta Behera and submitting a further progress report, the Court did not consider it necessary to keep the CRLMP pending for a month.ratio¶28
If the accused is not apprehended within a period of thirty days, it is open to the Petitioner to approach the Superintendent of Police, Bhadrak to change the Investigating Officer in the case.ratio¶30

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Criminal Miscellaneous Petition (CRLMP No. 410 of 2026, Orissa High Court, Savitri Ratho, J., order dated 13.05.2026) filed by the informant praying for a direction to opposite party Nos. 3 and 4 (Superintendent of Police, Bhadrak and Inspector-in-Charge, Bhandaripokhari Police Station) to properly investigate and close the investigation in Bhandaripokhari P.S. Case No.510 of 2025, corresponding to Special Case No. 145 of 2025. Pursuant to the Court's order dated 27.04.2026, the I.I.C.'s instructions dated 11.05.2026 recorded that the victim categorically denied any threat, intimidation or apprehension to her life and property from the accused persons' family members; that no such complaint or report had been received at the police station after the Court's order; that coercive process was being taken against the absconding accused; and that, as technical reports including CDR details were awaited, a further 30 days were sought to apprehend the accused Srikanta Behera. Finding no post-order complaint of threat or intimidation, and in view of the request for thirty days, the Court disposed of the CRLMP expecting apprehension of the accused within a month, and left it open to the petitioner, if the accused was not apprehended within thirty days, to approach the Superintendent of Police, Bhadrak for a change of Investigating Officer.

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK

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CRLMP No. 410 of 2026

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Informant …. Petitioner

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Mr. B.K. Nayak, Advocate

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-versus-

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1. State of Odisha, represented through the Secretary, Home Department, Bhubaneswar

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2. Director General of Police, Odisha, Cuttack

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3. Superintendent of Police, Bhadrak 4. Inspector-in-Charge of Bhandaripokhari Police Station, …. Opp. Parties

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Mr. Ashok Kumar Apat, Additional Government Advocate

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CORAM:

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HON’BLE MISS JUSTICE SAVITRI RATHO

ORDER

Order No.

13.05.2026

(Through hybrid Mode)

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1. This CRLMP has been filed with the following prayer:-

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“The petitioner, therefore, prays that your Lordships may graciously be pleased to admit the petition and considering grievances of the petitioner issue direction to the opposite parties especially opposite party No.3 and 4 to investigate the matter properly and to close the investigation in connection with Bhandaripokhari P.S. Case No.510 of 2025 corresponds to Special Case No. 145 of 2025;

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And may pass any such other order/orders, direction/directions as this Hon'ble Court deem fit and proper in the interest of justice;

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Page 1 of 3

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And for this act of kindness the petitioner shall as in duty bound ever pray.”

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Pursuant to order dated 27.04.2026 passed by this Court, the instructions dated 11.05.2026 of the I.I.C., Bhandaripokhari Police Station is produced by Mr. Ashok Kumar Apat, Additional Government Advocate. Paragraphs 7, 8 and 9 of the instructions which are relevant, are reproduced below:-

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“7. That, during the course of investigation, the victim was examined regarding any threat, intimidation or apprehension to her life and property from the family members of the accused persons, but she categorically denied the existence of any such threat or apprehension. Further, till date, no report or complaint regarding any threat, intimidation or danger to the life and property of the victim or her family members has been received at Bhandaripokhari Police Station after passing of the order by the Hon'ble Court. However, the local police have been directed to keep close vigil over the situation, and in the event of receipt of any such complaint in future, prompt legal action shall be taken in accordance with law.

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8. That necessary steps are being taken for issuance and execution of coercive process against the absconding accused in accordance with law.

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9. That in view of the continuing sincere efforts being made for tracing and apprehending the absconding accused and as some technical reports including CDR details are still awaited, it is therefore humbly prayed before the Hon'ble Court to kindly allow further 30 days' time to

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Page 2 of 3

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apprehend the accused Srikanta Behera and to submit further progress report in the matter.”

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It is apparent from the submission of the learned counsel for the Petitioner and instructions of the I.I.C., Bhandaripokhari Police Station that no complaint or report regarding threats or intimidation had been submitted by the victim or her family after order was passed by this Court on 27.04.2026.

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In view of the prayer of the I.I.C., Bhandaripokhari Police Station for allowing thirty days for apprehending the accused Srikanta Behera and to submit further progress report in the matter, this Court does not think it necessary to keep this CRLMP pending for a month.

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In view of the prayer of the I.I.C., the CRLMP is disposed of expecting that the accused will be apprehended within a month.

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In case the accused is not apprehended within a period of thirty days, it is open to the Petitioner to approach the Superintendent of Police, Bhadrak to change the Investigating Officer in the case.

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Urgent certified copy of this order be granted on proper application.

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(Savitri Ratho) Judge

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Sukanta

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Signature Not Verified

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Digitally Signed Signed by: SUKANTA KUMAR BEHERA Designation: Senior Stenographer Reason: Authentication Location: Orissa High Court, Cuttack Date: 14-May-2026 10:56:06

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Page 3 of 3

Informant v. State of Odisha

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Informant v. State of Odisha

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Procedural history

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Coram

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