Orissa High Court
Unknown vs State Of Orissa(Vigilance) … … on 13 June, 2025
Author: G. Satapathy
Bench: G. Satapathy
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
Debaraj Sunani
(In BLAPL No.5336 of 2025)
Ashok Kumar Sahu
(In BLAPL No.5443 of 2025)
Lalit Naik
(In BLAPL No.5445 of 2025)
Umesh Chandra Rout
(In BLAPL No.5518 of 2025)
Sairendri Bag
(In BLAPL No.5573 of 2025)
... Petitioners
Mr. A. Mishra, Advocate
(For BLAPL No. 5336 of 2025)
Mr. D. Mund, Advocate
(For BLAPL Nos. 5443, 5445 & 5518 of 2025)
Mr. A.K. Das, Advocate
(For BLAPL No. 5573 of 2025)
-versus-
State of Orissa(Vigilance) ... Opposite Party
Mr. S.K. Das, Addl. PP(Vigilance)
CORAM:
JUSTICE G. SATAPATHY
ORDER(ORAL)
Order No. 13.06.2025 02. 1. This matter is taken up through Hybrid
Arrangement (Virtual/Physical Mode).
2. Since these five bail applications arise out of one
and same case record, the same are heard together and
disposed of by this common order with the consent of
the learned counsel for the parties.
3. These are the bail applications U/S.483 of BNSS
by the petitioners for grant of bail in connection with
Page 1 of 4
Koraput Vigilance PS Case No.19 of 2025 corresponding
to GR (Vigilance) Case No. 07 of 2025 pending in the file
of learned Special Judge (Vigilance), Bhawanipatna for
commission of offences punishable Under Sections 13(2)
r/w Sec. 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act
and Sections 336(3)/340(2)/316(5)/318(4)/61(2) of the
BNS, on the main allegation of misappropriating the
Government money to the tune of Rs. 79,54,638/- by
preparing false vouchers and bills on the pretext of
doing plantation of saplings in five different plantation
sites in the Jaipatna Forest Range.
4. Heard, Mr. Ashutosh Mishra, learned counsel for
the Petitioner in BLAPL No.5336 of 2025; Mr. Dhananjay
Mund, learned counsel for the Petitioners in BLAPL
Nos.5443,5445 & 5518 of 2025; Mr. Ashok Kumar Das,
learned counsel for the Petitioner in BLAPL No. 5573 of
2025; and Mr. Sanjay Kumar Das, learned Additional
Public Prosecutor appearing for the Vigilance
Department and perused the record including the
instruction received from the IO in which the IO has
clarified about no requirement of custodial interrogation
of the accused-Petitioners.
5. After having considered the rival submissions and
taking into consideration the nature and gravity of the
offences as alleged against the petitioners vis-a-vis the
accusations sought to be brought against them and on
going through the materials placed on record and regard
Page 2 of 4
being had to the mode, manner and the circumstance
under which the offences have been committed and taking
into account the pre trial detention of the Petitioners in
custody since 13.05.2025 with substantial progress of
investigation and keeping in view the other circumstances
on record in entirety including the requirement of no
custodial interrogation of any of the Petitioners and the
law laid down by the Apex Court in Satendra Kumar
Antil Vrs. Central Bureau of Investigation; (2021) 10
SCC 773, this Court without expressing any view on
merits admits each of the Petitioners to bail.
6. Hence, these five bail applications of the
petitioners namely Debaraj Sunani, Ashok Kumar Sahu,
Lalit Naik, Umesh Chandra Rout and Sairendri Bag in
BLAPL Nos. 5336, 5443, 5445, 5518 & 5573 of 2025
stand allowed and each of the petitioners is allowed to
go on bail on furnishing bail bonds of Rs.50,000/-
(Rupees Fifty Thousand) with two solvent sureties each
for the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned
Court in seisin of the case on such terms and conditions
as deem fit and proper by it with following conditions:-
(i) the petitioners shall not commit any
offence while on bail,
(ii) the petitioners in the course of trial
shall attend the trial Court on each date of
posting without fail unless their
attendance are dispensed with. In case
the Petitioners fail without sufficient
cause to appear in the Court inPage 3 of 4
accordance with the terms of the bail,
the learned trial Court may proceed
against the Petitioners for offence
U/S.269 of BNS,2023 in accordance
with law,
(iii) the petitioners shall not leave the
territorial jurisdiction of the trial Court
without prior permission till disposal of the
case by intimating their present address
of stay to the concerned Court and
(iv) the Petitioners shall appear before the
IO as and when required and shall
cooperate with the investigation in the
present case.
It is clarified that the Court in seisin of the case
will be at liberty to cancel the bail of the petitioners
without further reference to this Court, if any of the
above conditions are violated or a case for cancellation
of bail is otherwise made out. In the wake of aforesaid,
the subsequent involvement of the petitioners in future
for similar/grave offences on prima facie accusations
may be treated as a ground for cancellation of bail in
this case.
7. Accordingly, these BLAPL Nos. 5336, 5443,
5445, 5518, 5573 of 2025 stand disposed of.
8. Issue urgent certified copy of the order as per
Rules.
(G. Satapathy)
Vacation Judge
Signature Not Verified priyajit
Digitally Signed
Signed by: PRIYAJIT SAHOO
Reason: Authentication
Location: High Court of Orissa
Date: 14-Jun-2025 12:23:20
Page 4 of 4