[Cites 1, Cited by 0]
Orissa High Court
Turam Munda vs State Of Odisha on 25 March, 2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
CRLA No.660 of 2012
Turam Munda .... Appellant/
Petitioner
Represented by Adv.-
Mr. Chittaranjan Sahu, Advocate
-versus-
State of Odisha .... Respondent/
Opp. Party
Represented by Adv.-
Mr. Partha Sarathi Nayak,
Addl. Government Advocate
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANASH RANJAN PATHAK
AND
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SIBO SANKAR MISHRA
ORDER
Order No. 25.03.2026
(Hybrid mode)
13. 1. This is an application for bail.
2. Heard Mr. Chittaranjan Sahu, learned counsel
appearing for the appellant and Mr. Partha Sarathi
Nayak, learned Additional Government Advocate
appearing for the State-Respondent.
3. The present appeal filed by the appellant is
pending since 2012 assailing the judgment of
conviction and order of sentence dated 17.11.2012
passed by the learned Adhoc Additional Sessions
Judge, Fast Track Court, Keonjhar in S.T. Case
No.6/259 of 2012-11, whereby the appellant has been
convicted for the offence punishable under Section
302 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced him to
undergo imprisonment for life till death and to pay a
fine of Rs.20,000/- (Rupees twenty thousand), in
default, to undergo R.I. for one year.
4. Through this application, the appellant is seeking
suspension of the sentence and grant of bail during
pending appeal.
5. On 12.11.2024, the application was heard at
length and this Court by relying upon the judgment in
the case of Leti @ Jayadeb Roy and another vs.
The State reported in (1990) 3 Orissa Criminal
Reports 427, enlarged the appellant on interim bail
for the period of three months. After availing the
concession of the interim bail, the appellant has
surrendered.
6. On the last date of hearing, we had asked Mr.
Partha Sarathi Nayak, learned State counsel to obtain
instruction from the local police regarding the conduct
of the appellant while he was on interim bail. Pursuant
to our said direction, he has filed report dated
26.10.2025 issued by the IIC, Ghatagaon Police
Station, inter alia, stating that during the interim bail
period of three months, the appellant is not involved
in any other adversarial case. His conduct has been
satisfactory. Learned State counsel has also filed the
Custody Certificate dated 17.02.2026 issued by the
Superintendent, District Jail, Keonjhar. From the said
Custody Certificate, it reveals that the convict-
appellant has already undergone custody for a period
of 14 years and 3 months as on 17.02.2026. The said
reports are taken on record.
7. Learned counsel appearing for the appellant as
well as the State have extensively argued their
specific case by taking us to the evidence on record
particularly the testimonies of P.Ws.1, 11 and 16. We
have taken into consideration the submissions of
learned counsels appearing for both the parties and
perused the materials on record.
8. Regard being had to the nature of the evidence
and the period of custody of the convict-appellant for
14 years & 3 months and the appeal is pending since
2012 and there is no likelihood of the appeal being
heard in the near future, we are inclined to release the
petitioner on bail.
Let the appellant be released on bail pending
disposal of the appeal on furnishing bail bond of
Rs.50,000/- (Rupees fifty thousand) with two local
solvent sureties for the like amount to the satisfaction
of the learned trial Court. The learned trial Court shall
also impose the additional conditions as deem fit and
proper in the facts and circumstances of the case.
9. Violation of any of the terms and conditions shall
entail cancellation of the bail.
10. Accordingly, the I.A. is disposed of.
11. Urgent certified copy of this order be granted as
per rules.
(Manash Ranjan Pathak)
Judge
(Sibo Sankar Mishra)
Judge
Subhasis
Designation: Personal Assistant
Location: High Court of Orissa, Cuttack.
Date: 25-Mar-2026 20:11:24
