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

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

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Liberty to the authorities to proceed in accordance with law in respect of the vehicle; interim release of the petitioner's vehicle upon deposit of Rs.25,000/- in cash and the balance of the demanded amount as property security before the authority within 15 days, with certified copy of the order and copy of the writ petition, subject to final decision by the authority.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner's vehicle (registration No.OD-04-U-6951), seized by the Mining Officer, Cuttack for alleged illegal transportation of sand, should be released, and on what terms the authorities may proceed on the demand notice/compounding fee.

Court's answer

The writ petition is disposed of, granting liberty to the authorities to proceed in accordance with law in respect of the vehicle in question.

Ratio / Principle

As an interim measure and without prejudice to the petitioner's contention, her vehicle may be released in her favour, subject to final decision by the authority, if she deposits Rs.25,000/- in cash and the rest of the demanded amount as property security.

Key takeaways

The deposit of Rs.25,000/- in cash and the balance as property security is to be made before the authority within 15 days, along with a certified copy of the order and a copy of the writ petition.ratio¶21

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition (WP(C) No.14403 of 2026, High Court of Orissa, B.P. Routray J.) disposed of. The vehicle bearing registration No.OD-04-U-6951 had been seized by the Mining Officer, Cuttack for illegal transportation of sand, and notice of seizure with a demand notice was served on the petitioner on 5th February 2026, demanding compounding fee of Rs.02,01,001/-. The Court granted the authorities liberty to proceed in accordance with law in respect of the vehicle. As an interim measure, without prejudice to the petitioner's contentions, the Court directed that the vehicle be released to the petitioner if, within 15 days, she deposits Rs.25,000/- in cash and furnishes the balance of the demanded amount as property security before the authority, along with a certified copy of the order and a copy of the writ petition, subject to the final decision of the authority.

Signature Not Verified

Digitally Signed Signed by: SANGRAM DAS Reason: Authentication Location: High Court of Orissa, C utta ck Date: 06-Jul-2026 17:39:14

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK WP(C) No.14403 of 2026

Sradhanjali Mohanty

…. Petitioner

Mr. K.K.Rout, Advocate

-versus-

State of Odisha and Others

…. Opposite Parties

Mr. T.K.Dash, AGA

CORAM: SHRI JUSTICE B. P. ROUTRAY

ORDER 06.07.2026

Order No.

1. Heard Mr. Rout, learned counsel for the Petitioner and Mr. Dash, learned AGA for State- opposite parties.

Upon instruction, Mr. Dash, learned AGA submits that the vehicle bearing registration No.OD-04-U-6951 has been seized by the Mining Officer, Cuttack for illegal transportation of sand and notice of seizure along with demand notice has been served on the Petitioner on 5^th February 2026. A copy of the demand notice as produced by Mr. Dash, learned AGA is kept on record.

As seen from the demand notice produced in Court, the office of Mining Officer, Cuttack has issued the notice for deposit of compounding fee amounting of Rs.02,01,001/for illegal transportation of sand in the vehicle bearing registration number OD04-U-6951.

As such, the writ petition is disposed of granting liberty to the authorities to proceed in accordance with law in respect of the vehicle in question. However, without prejudice to the contention of the petitioner, in the event she deposits a sum of Rs.25,000/- (Twenty five

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Signature Not Verified

Digitally Signed Signed by: SANGRAM DAS Reason: Authentication Location: High Court of Orissa, C utta ck Date: 06-Jul-2026 17:39:14

thousand only) in cash and the rest amount as property security in respect of the demanded amount, before the authority within a period of 15 days from today along with certified copy of this order and a copy of the writ petition, her vehicle may be released in her favour as an interim measure, subject to final decision to be taken by the authority.

An urgent certified copy of this order shall be issued on proper application.

( B.P. Routray) Judge

S.Das

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