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Transit bail for IPS official

Correspondent

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Thursday allowed the anticipatory bail application of escaped convict Bitihotra Mahanti's father and senior IPS officer B B Mahanti for a "limited period" and gave him the liberty to surrender before the appropriate court to move for the regular bail during the transit period.

Disposing of the advance bail petition of the IPS officer, the HC said: "The petitioner may surrender before the learned CJM, Jaipur city, in connection with the aforesaid (Lal Kothi police station) case within a period of six weeks from today and move for bail". The HC also granted the transit bail to the petitioner saying during the transit period if the petitioner is arrested, he shall released on bail by the arresting officer on furnishing bond of Rs 10,000 with one surety for the like amount to the satisfaction of the arresting officer.

The Rajasthan police in December last had registered an FIR against Mahanti under section 120, 130 and 216 of IPC for allegedly aiding, abetting and harbouring his son who has jumped parole while serving a seven-year jail term in Rajasthan capital Jaipur for raping a German tourist. Latter, the Rajasthan Government informed the Orissa HC that presently investigation was being done with regard to offence under Section 120, 216 and 225 whereas no material is yet found to make out case under the non-bailable Section of 130 of the IPC. The single judge bench of Mr Justice Laxmikanta Mohapatra who had reserved the judgment after completion of hearing on February 26, ruled that Orissa High Court had the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the bail of the petitioner, thereby removing the entire doubt raised by the Rajasthan government over the maintainability of the case in Orissa HC. After the delivery of the judgment, P K Parhi who was appearing on behalf of the Rajasthan Government said that appropriate legal action would be taken in accordance with law after going through the judgment.

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