CUTTACK, India, June 30 -- Orissa High Court issued the following order on June 5:

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK

BLAPL No. 3827 of 2026

Amit Kumar Mahakud @ Kanhu ... Petitioner

For the Petitioner: Mr. Sudhansu Sekhar Dash, Advocate

Versus

State of Odisha ... Opposite Party

For the Opposite Party: Mr. Pradeep Kumar Sahoo, ASC

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MURAHARI SRI RAMAN

Order No. 02

Order Date: 05.06.2026

I.A. No. 398 of 2026

1. This matter is taken up through virtual mode.

2. This is an Interlocutory Application filed by the petitioner for his release on interim bail for a period of one month to attend the Sudhi ceremony of his maternal grandmother.

3. It is submitted by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner that since the maternal grandmother of the petitioner died on 27.05.2026 and her Sudhi ceremony is scheduled to be performed on 6th June, 2026, 7th June, 2026 and 8th June, 2026, the presence of the petitioner is badly necessary and, as such, he may be released on interim bail to facilitate him to attend the ritual.

4. Learned Additional Standing Counsel appearing for the State, though opposes the prayer for interim bail of the petitioner for a period of one month, submits that the petitioner may be allowed to attend the Sudhi ceremony of his maternal grandmother in custody.

5. Considering the aforesaid submission of the learned counsel for the parties, though this Court is not inclined to release the petitioner on interim bail for a period of one month as prayed for by the petitioner, perceiving that the presence of the petitioner in the Sudhi ritual of his maternal grandmother is necessary, it is directed that the petitioner be taken on 6th June, 2026, 7th June, 2026 and 8th June, 2026 to his maternal grandmother's house and the place where the ritual is scheduled to be held in custody to attend the ceremony of his maternal grandmother during daytime and allowed to stay there for five to six hours (ritual time) and then be brought back to the jail consecutively for the aforesaid three days.

6. The Jail authority and Police authority providing escort shall act on the downloaded copy of this order from the web portal of this Court and shall also be at liberty to take such measures as required for the safe return of the petitioner to jail.

7. With the aforesaid order, this Interim Application stands disposed of.

BLAPL No. 3827 of 2026

8. List this BLAPL after the ensuing Summer Vacation before the assigned Bench.

(M.S. Raman)

Vacation Judge

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.