Orissa High Court
Jagannath Pani vs State Of Odisha (Vig.) on 31 July, 2023
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
CRLA No.825 of 2023
Jagannath Pani .... Appellant/
Petitioner
Mr.J. R. Deo, Advocate
-versus-
State of Odisha (Vig.) .... Respondent/
Opp. Party
Mr.Sanjay Kumar Das,
Standing Counsel(Vig.)
CORAM:
JUSTICE S.K. SAHOO
ORDER
Order No. 31.07.2023
CRLA No. 825 of 2023
01. This matter is taken up through Hybrid
arrangement (video conferencing/physical Mode).
Mr. Sanjay Kumar Das, learned Standing Counsel
for the Vigilance Department submitted that he has
received the copy of the appeal memo along with the
copies of the impugned judgment and interim application.
He undertakes to file his appearance memo by the end of
this month.
Heard.
Admit
Call for the trial Court records.
List this matter after receipt of the trial Court
records indicating the name of Mr. Sanjay Kumar Das,
// 2 //
learned Standing Counsel for the Vigilance Department in
the cause list as well as at the top of the brief.
( S.K. Sahoo)
Judge
I.A. No.1753 of 2023
02. This is an application for bail.
Heard learned counsel for the appellant-petitioner
and learned Standing Counsel for the Vigilance
Department.
The appellant-petitioner Jagannath Pani has been
convicted for the offence under section 13(2) read with
sections 13(1)(d)/7 of the Prevention of Corruption
Act,1988 and sentenced to undergo R.I. for a period of
three years and to pay a fine of Rs.5,000/-(rupees five
thousand), in default, to undergo R.I. for a further period
of two months for the offence under section 7 of the P.C.
Act and to undergo R.I. for a period of one year and to
pay a fine of Rs.1,000/-(rupees one thousand), in default,
to undergo R.I. for a further period of one month for the
offence under section 13(1)(d) of the P.C. Act and both
the sentences were directed to run concurrently by the
learned Special Judge, Vigilance, Berhampur in G.R. Case
No.18 of 2018(V)/T.R. No.02/2019.
Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the
petitioner was on bail during trial and he has never
misutilized the liberty granted to him and therefore, the
petitioner may be directed to be released on bail pending
disposal of the appeal.
// 3 //
Learned counsel for the Vigilance Department
opposed the prayer for bail.
Considering the submissions made by the learned
counsel for the respective parties, the nature of evidence
adduced by the prosecution during trial, the sentence
imposed by the learned trial Court and absence of
chance of early hearing of the appeal in the near future,
I am inclined to release the petitioner on bail.
Let the appellant-petitioner be released on bail
pending disposal of the appeal on furnishing bail bond of
Rs.50,000/- (rupees fifty thousand) with two solvent
sureties each for the like amount to the satisfaction of
the learned trial Court.
The I.A. is disposed of.
( S.K. Sahoo)
Judge
I.A. No. 1751 of 2023
03. This is an application for stay of realization of fine.
Heard.
Considering the submissions made by the learned
counsel for the parties, let there be stay of realization of
fine amount imposed on the appellant-petitioner pursuant
to the judgment and order dated 22.07.2023 passed by
the Special Judge, Vigilance, Berhampur in G.R. Case
No.18 of 2018(V)/T.R. No.02/2019 pending disposal of the
criminal appeal.
The I.A. is disposed of.
Issue urgent certified copy as per Rules.
// 4 //
Free copy of the order be supplied to the learned
counsel for the Vigilance Department.
( S.K. Sahoo)
Judge
PKSahoo
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
Signed by: PRAMOD KUMAR SAHOO
Reason: Authentication
Location: HIGH COURT OF ORISSA
Date: 01-Aug-2023 15:00:43
