TANOJ PRADHAN vs STATE OF ODISHA

Court
Odisha High Court

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
BLAPL NOs.6485 & 6577 of 2026

CNR Nos. ODHC010470322026 & ODHC010468052026

(In the matter of applications under Section 483 of
BNSS, 2023).



Tanoj Pradhan
(In BLAPL No.6485 of 2026)
Himanshu Srivastav
(In BLAPL No.6577 of 2026) … Petitioners

Ms. A. Ray, Advocate
(in BLAPL No.6485 of 2026)
Mr. Sk. Zafarulla, Advocate
(in BLAPL No.6577 of 2026)



-versus-

State of Odisha … Opposite Party
Mr. M.R. Patra, Addl. PP


CORAM: JUSTICE G. SATAPATHY



DATE OF HEARING & JUDGMENT:08.09.2026(ORAL)

G. Satapathy, J.

1. Since these two 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.
2. These are the bail applications U/S.483 of BNSS
by the petitioners for grant of bail in connection with
Belpahar PS Case No.32 of 2026 corresponding to CT Case
No.189 of 2026 pending in the file of learned JMFC-I (Cog.

BLAPL Nos.6485 & 6577 of 2026 Page 1 of 6

Taking), Jharsuguda, for commission of offences
punishable U/Ss.112(2)/ 317(2)/ 317(4)/ 317(5)/ 318(4)/
61(2) of BNS r/w Section 66(C) of IT Act.
3. The allegation against the Petitioner in gist is
that the Petitioner Tanoj Pradhan and others have
consciously allowed their bank accounts to be used for
receiving, withdrawing, layering, transferring and
converting proceeds of cyber fraud by handing over their
account credentials to Petitioner Himanshu Srivastav who
has been allegedly operating such mule accounts to
commit online financial fraud. It is, accordingly, stated that
the current account of Tanoj Pradhan as the proprietor of
M/s. Healthy Foods Enterprises has total credit of
Rs.10,23,053/- and debit of Rs. 9,73,023/- and such
account is linked with five NCRP complaints. It is also
stated that the Petitioner Himanshu Srivastav has used the
account credentials, such as ATM, Debit Cards, account
link SIM cards standing in the name of co-accused Bhima
Munda, Tanoj Pradhan, Kedar Pradhan, Paramananda Das
and Stifan Bastraya and there has been aggregate credit
of approximately Rs. 5,25,08,691. 54/- to the six accounts

BLAPL Nos.6485 & 6577 of 2026 Page 2 of 6

of the aforesaid persons and aggregate debit/transfer of
approximately Rs. 5,01,73,652.73/- from such accounts.
4. In the course of hearing, Ms. Agnisikha Ray,
learned counsel for the petitioner Tanoj Pradhan submits
that the Petitioner is an innocent mule account holder and
he has no role in the online financial fraud, but he stands
on similar footing with co-accused Stifan Bastraya and
Paramananda Das released on bail and thereby, the
Petitioner may kindly be granted bail.
4.1. On the other hand, Mr. Sk. Zafarulla, learned
counsel for the petitioner- Himanshu Srivastav submits
that the Petitioner is also equally innocent person and he
has no role in financial fraud, rather at best, he is one of
the agents alleged for receiving some commission on
investment amount and thereby, the petitioner may kindly
be granted bail.
4.2. On the other contrary, Mr. M.R. Patra, learned
Additional Public Prosecutor by producing the written
instruction received from IIC submits that the Petitioner
Himanshu Srivastav is the principal accused-cum-operator

BLAPL Nos.6485 & 6577 of 2026 Page 3 of 6

of the mule account and he being in possession of the
account credentials of co-accused persons, has already
received ill-gotten money of Rs. 5.25 Crores in the
accounts standing in the name of co-accused and thereby,
he is not entitled to be released on bail.
5. After having considered the rivals submissions
upon perusal of record, the main allegation appears
against the Petitioner Himanshu Srivastav for operating
the mule accounts standing in the name of co-accused
Bhima Munda, Tanoj Pradhan, Kedar Pradhan,
Paramananda Das and Stifan Bastraya and for receiving
Rs. 5,25,08,691.54/- in the bank accounts standing in the
name of the above co-accused persons with immediate
debit and transfer of Rs. 5,01,73,652.73/-. On the
contrary, there appears allegation against the Petitioner
Tanoj Pradhan for handing over his accounts to the
Petitioner Himanshu Srivastav in lieu of some paltry
commission and accordingly, the current account standing
in the name of M/s. Healthy Foods Enterprises has been
credited with Rs. 10,23,053/- followed by debit of Rs.
9,73,023/- immediately. Further, the petitioner Tanoj

BLAPL Nos.6485 & 6577 of 2026 Page 4 of 6

Pradhan stands on similar footing with that of co-accused
Kedar Pradhan, Paramananda Das and Stifan Bastraya
who have already been granted bail by this Court in BLAPL
Nos. 4284 of 2026, 4497 of 2026 & 4676 of 2026, but the
main allegation is directed against the Petitioner Himanshu
Srivastav for operating the accounts standing in the name
of the aforesaid persons and for transacting more than Rs.
5 Crores in such accounts.
6. In the aforesaid premises and on consideration of
the materials placed on record together with the main
allegation being directed against the Petitioner Himanshu
Srivastav, this Court while not being inclined to grant bail
to the Petitioner Himanshu Srivastav, considers it proper
to grant bail to the Petitioner Tanoj Pradhan.
7. Hence, the bail application of the Petitioner
Himanshu Srivastav in BLAPL No. 6577 of 2026 stands
rejected, whereas the bail application of the petitioner
namely Tanoj Pradhan in BLAPL No.6485 of 2026 stands
allowed and consequently, the Petitioner Tanoj Pradhan is
allowed to go on bail on furnishing bail bonds of

BLAPL Nos.6485 & 6577 of 2026 Page 5 of 6

Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand) with one solvent
surety for the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned
Court in seisin of the case on such terms and conditions
except cash surety as deem fit and proper by it with
following condition:-
(i) the petitioner in the course of trial shall
attend the trial Court on each date of posting
without fail unless his attendance is dispensed
with. In case the Petitioner fails without
sufficient cause to appear in the Court in
accordance with the terms of the bail, the
learned trial Court may proceed against
the Petitioner for offence U/S.269 of BNS,
2023 in accordance with law.

8. Accordingly, these BLAPLs stand disposed of. A
soft copy of this order be immediately communicated to
the concerned Court, who shall afterwards communicate
the same to the concerned Jail through e-mail for
reference.

(G. Satapathy)
Judge




Orissa High Court, Cuttack,
th
Dated the 8 day of September, 2026/Priyajit
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
Signed by: PRIYAJIT SAHOO
Designation: Sr. Stenographer
Reason: Authentication
Location: HIGH COURT OF ORISSA
Date: 08-Sep-2026 21:24:45

BLAPL Nos.6485 & 6577 of 2026 Page 6 of 6