Orissa High Court
Samuel Cyril Lakra vs State Of Odisha …. Opp. Party on 9 May, 2025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
BLAPL No.4037 of 2025
Samuel Cyril Lakra .... Petitioner
Mr. Soumya
Ranjan Das,
Advocate
-versus-
State of Odisha .... Opp. Party
Mr.S.J.Mohanty,
ASC
CORAM:
JUSTICE SIBO SANKAR MISHRA
Order ORDER
No. 09.05.2025
01.
1.
The petitioner is an accused in connection with
Rourkela Sector-15 P.S. Case No.190 of 2024
corresponding to G.R. Case No.3462 of 2024
registered for the alleged commission of the offences
punishable under Sections 419/ 420/ 465/ 467/
471/120-B/34 of the IPC r/w Sections 66(C)/66(D) of
the I.T. Act, pending in the Court of the learned
Additional C.J.M., Rourkela. The petitioner had
approached the learned 2nd Additional Sessions
Judge, Rourkela in BLAPL No.236 of 134 of 2025
corresponding to G.R. Case No.3462 of 2024 praying
for grant of bail. The learned Court below vide its
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order dated 05.04.2025 rejected the bail application
of the petitioner. Being aggrieved, the petitioner has
filed the present petition under Section 439 of the
Cr.P.C. praying for enlargement on bail.
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner, on instruction
from the petitioner, submits that, except the present
bail application, no other bail application of the
petitioner is pending in any other Court relating to
the aforesaid F.I.R.
3. The prosecution case is that on 28.11.2024, the
complainant reported at P.S. that two persons
associated with MVC company through Whatsapp,
namely, Umesh Kumar Ramani and the present
petitioner conjointly with intent of criminal
conspiracy cheated the complainant by impersonation
on the hope of investment for better return. Hence,
the F.I.R.
4. The co-accused of the petitioner, namely, Umesh
Kumar Ramani had filed five bail applications, i.e.,
BLAPL Nos.991, 273, 909, 1156 and 1177 of 2025.
The Coordinate Bench of this Court vide order dated
04.03.2025 has enlarged the co-accused on bail in all
the five cases. The relevant portion of the order is
extracted below:
“7. In the result, the petitions stand allowed. As a
necessary corollary, the petitioner is directed to be
released on bail in connection with G.R. CasePage 2 of 5
Nos.3462, 3361, 3362, 3360 and 704 of 2024 arising
out of Sector-15 P.S. Case Nos.190, 183, 184 and 182
of 2024 and Chhend P.S. Case No.57 of 2024 subject
to him furnishing a bail bond of Rs.50,000/- (rupees
fifty thousand) each with two solvent sureties for the
like amount to the satisfaction of the learned SDJM,
Panposh, Rourkela, who shall impose such other
suitable conditions as deemed just and proper in the
facts and circumstances of the case besides the
following, such as, he shall not be involved in any
such similar criminal activities after being released
and to furnish an undertaking at the local PS in that
behalf; and shall not leave the jurisdiction of the PS
without intimation and to surrender his passport, if he
has any, with the court concerned.”
Relying upon the aforementioned order of the
Coordinate Bench of this Court, learned counsel for
the petitioner contended that his case is exactly
similar to that of the co-accused Umesh Kumar
Ramani, who was also an agent of the company
dealing with the crypto currency.
5. Learned counsel for the State objected to the
prayer of bail made by the learned counsel for the
petitioner on the ground that the petitioner is
involved in as many as seven cases.
It is found from the record that the co-accused
Umesh Kumar Ramani was also involved in five cases
and he has been granted bail by the Coordinate
Bench of this Court in the above-mentioned cases.
Therefore, the petitioner is entitled to the parity with
the co-accused Umesh Kumar Ramani. The petitioner
is in custody since 10.12.2024.
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6. Regard being had to the nature of allegation
against the petitioner and the fact that the co-
accused Umesh Kumar Ramani has been granted bail
by the Coordinate Bench of this Court vide order
dated 04.03.2025 in the abovementioned cases and
the petitioner seeks parity with the co-accused and
the fact that the petitioner is in custody since
10.12.2024, I am inclined to enlarge accused-
Petitioner on bail.
7. Hence, the Petitioner is directed to be released on
bail by the learned Court in seisin over the matter in
the aforesaid case on such terms and conditions as it
would deem just and proper, subject to the following
additional conditions:
(1) The petitioner shall appear before the Court
diligently without fail, on every date of
hearing;
(2) He shall not influence any of the witnesses
related to this case in any manner
whatsoever; and
(3) He shall not commit any offence while on
bail.
(4) He shall be release subject to verification of
antecedent beyond the cases already
disclosed in this petition.
In the event, the petitioner is found to be
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wanted for violation of any of the bail conditions
imposed by this Court or the trial Court even on a
single occasion, the prosecution is at liberty to move
appropriate application before the Court below for
cancellation of the concession of bail granted by this
Court. If such application is filed, the trial Court
shall decide the application on its own merit.
8. The BLAPL is accordingly disposed of.
(S.S. Mishra)
Judge
Subhasis
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
Signed by: SUBHASIS MOHANTY
Designation: Personal Assistant
Reason: Authentication
Location: High Court of Orissa, Cuttack.
Date: 10-May-2025 15:19:27
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