HIGH COURT OF ORISSA
RAJESH KUMAR SAHU – Appellant
Versus
STATE OF ODISHA – Respondent
BLAPL 6501/2020
['B S DASPARIDA', '', 'S K DASH', 'S MOHAPATRA', 'K MOHANTY', 'M K AGARAWALLA']
03 12.02.2021
This matter is taken through Video Conferencing
Mode.
Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and
learned counsel for the State.
The petitioner is an accused in 2(a) C.C. Case
No.114 of 2020 arising out of Soro Excise Station P.R. No.31
of 2020-21on the file of learned J.M.F.C., Soro registered for
the offence punishable under Section 52(a)(i) of the Odisha
Excise Act.
It is alleged that on 03.09.2020 at 10.30 A.M. while
the O.I.C. of Soro Excise Station along with his staff were
performing patrolling duty at Nadigaon area, they found the
petitioner carrying some loaded bags towards his house. So,
on suspicion, they detained him and on search they
recovered 22 Nos. Jari bags having motor tubes each
containing 60 litres of I.D. liquor in total 1320 litres of I.D.
liquor. Then he conducted blue litmus paper test on the
said seized liquor which turned into red so also conducted
hydrometer test and found the result as temperature 96* F.,
indication 78.0* and strength of 49.3*. After such test, he
confirmed the said seized liquor to be I.D. liquor and then
collected 2 Nos. of sample of 500 ml from the tube as I-A &
1-B after which they destroyed the remaining seized liquor
after preparing the seizure list and arrested the petitioner for
commission of offence U/s 52(a)(i) of Odisha Excise Act,
2008 and forwarded him to the court on 07.09.2020.
Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the
petitioner is a meritorious student and he has passed out
BLAPL NO.6501 of 2020
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from Fakir Mohan University, Balsore in science Stream.
Though he has no nexus to the alleged incident but the
Investigating Officer only to prove the prosecution case has
implicated him as accused. It is further submitted that the
alleged jerry bags containing I.D. liquor were seized near
about 100 metres away from the petitioner’s house. While
seizing the same, they called him and arrayed as accused.
The petitioner is a permanent resident having no criminal
antecedent. He is in custody since 07.09.2020. He shall
abide by any terms and conditions if he is released on bail.
Learned counsel for the State opposed the bail
petition of the petitioner.
Having heard the learned counsel for the petitioner
and the State, considering the facts and circumstances of
the case and the materials available on record as well as
period of detention and having no criminal antecedents, the
petitioner be released on bail in the aforesaid case by the
court in seisin over the matter on such terms and conditions
as deemed just and proper subject to conditions that;
i) The petitioner shall appear before the learned
trial Court on each date when the case is posted for trial;
ii) he shall not involve himself in similar type of
offence;
Violation of the aforesaid conditions may entail
consideration for cancellation of the bail granted to the
petitioner.
The Bail Application is accordingly disposed of.
As restriction period is continuing for COVID-19,
learned counsel for the petitioner may utilize the soft copy of
3
this order available in the High Court’s website or print out
thereof at par with certified copies
in
the
manner
prescribed, vide Court’s Notice No.4587 dated 25.3.2020.
………………………..
S. K. Panigrahi, J.
LNB