Orissa High Court

Bishnupada Sethi vs C.B.I. .... Opposite Party on 3 July, 2025

Author: V. Narasingh

Bench: V. Narasingh

            IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
                      ABLAPL No. 7333 of 2025

        Bishnupada Sethi                    ....         Petitioner
                                            Mr. D. Panda, Advocate
                                 -versus-

        C.B.I.                              ....    Opposite Party

                          Mr. S. Nayak, Spl. Public Prosecutor, CBI

                      CORAM: JUSTICE V. NARASINGH
                                ORDER

Order No.                      03.07.2025
 01.   1.     Heard learned counsel for the Petitioner and

learned Retainer Counsel for the CBI.

2. The Petitioner is seeking pre-arrest bail in connection with R.C. Case No. 17(A) of 2024 pending on the file of learned Spl. Judge CBI-I, Bhubaneswar, arising out of FIR No. RC2172024A0017 of CBI, AC- II, New Delhi for commission of offences punishable under Section 61(2) of BNS and Section 7 read with Section 8, 9 & 10 of the P.C. Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018).

3. During the course of hearing, Mr. S. Nayak, learned Retainer Counsel for the CBI sought a short adjournment to file objection to the prayer seeking pre arrest bail.

4. While not opposing such prayer, the learned counsel for the Petitioner, Mr. Panda seeks interim protection on the ground that if in the interregnum

the Petitioner is incarcerated, the ABLAPL would be rendered infructuous.

5. Such submission is vehemently opposed by Mr. S. Nayak, learned Retainer Counsel for the CBI relying on the judgment of this Court dated 20.06.2025 passed in W.P.(C) No.5905 of 2025 wherein the prayer of the Petitioner and members of his family to quash investigation in respect of them in the case at hand was not entertained by this Court.

6. Considering the rival submissions, keeping in view the background in which the allegations have been made, this Court directs that the matter to be listed on 08.07.2025.

The objection, if any, by the Opposite Party (CBI) shall be placed on record by 07.07.2025 after serving copy thereof on the learned counsel for the Petitioner.

7. Till the next date, no coercive action shall be taken against the Petitioner in connection with the aforesaid case.

It is needless to state that the Petitioner shall cooperate with the ongoing investigation and shall not leave the jurisdiction of this Court till the next date.

8. List this matter on 08.07.2025.

Location: High Court of Orissa, Cuttack Date: 04-Jul-2025 16:45:49 (V. NARASINGH) Judge Ayesha