JUDGMENT

Sashikanta Mishra, J.

These Bail Applications have arisen out of the same case and involve common questions of fact and law. As such, both the applications were heard together and are being disposed of by this common order.

2. The petitioners, in BLAPL No. 14644 of 2023 (Manoj Kumar Pattnaik) and BLAPL No 14599 of 2023 (Basanta Kumar Pradhan), are in custody since 17.11.2023 in connection with EOW CID C.B. Bhubaneswar, Orissa P.S. Case No. 25 of 2023 dated 16.10.2023 corresponding to C.T. case No. 124 of 2023 pending in the Court of learned Presiding Officer, Designated Court (under the OPID Act) at Cuttack for the alleged commission of Offence under Section 420/467/468/471/120-B of IPC read with Section 4,5 and 6 of Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act 1978 (PCMCS) read with Section 6 of OPID Act and Section 66-C of Information Technology Act.

Prosecution Case

3. The Inspector of Police (EOW Bhubaneswar) Rina Behera lodged an FIR on 16.10.2023 before the S.P. EOW on the basis of a complaint received from one Swagat Kumar Nayak against the CEO of Yes World, Sandeep Chowdhury, the present petitioners and other unnamed persons. It is alleged that the Petitioner