RUKMANI PANI @ RUKMANI PANI KANDHAPANI RANI PRITI vs STATE OF ODISHA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
CRLA NO.583 of 2026
CNR NO.ODHC010400052026

(In the matter of an appeal U/S.14-A(2) of SC & ST
(PoA) Act).


… Appellants
Rukmani Pani @ Rukmani
Pani Kandhapani Rani Priti
and another
-versus-
State of Odisha … Respondent



For Appellants : Mr. B.P. Nanda, Advocate

For Respondent : Mr. T.K. Acharya, Addl. PP

CORAM: JUSTICE G. SATAPATHY




DATE OF HEARING & JUDGMENT:09.09.2026(ORAL)

G. Satapathy, J.

IA No.1724 of 2026
1. This is an application U/S.5 of the Limitation
Act by the appellants for condonation of delay of 129
days in preferring the appeal.
2. Heard, Mr. Biraja Prasanna Nanda, learned
counsel appearing virtually for the appellants and Mr.
T.K. Acharya, learned Additional Public Prosecutor in
the matter and perused the record. None appears for
CRLA No.583 of 2026 Page 1 of 5

the informant/victim despite being duly intimated as
apprised by learned Addl. PP.
3. For the reasons stated therein in the IA, the
prayer for condonation of delay stands allowed and,
accordingly, the delay of 129 days in preferring the
appeal is, hereby, condoned. Hence, the IA No.1724 of
2026 stands disposed of.
CRLA No.583 of 2026
4. This criminal appeal in the nature of bail
U/S.14-A of the Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe
(Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 together with
amendment Act, 2016 (in short, “the Act”) is directed
against the impugned order dated 14.11.2025 passed
in TR Case No.133 of 2025 by which the learned
Additional Sessions Judge-Cum-Special Judge, Koraput,
has refused to grant bail to the appellants in connection
with Nandapur PS Case No.99 of 2025, for commission
of offence punishable U/Ss.140(1)/103(1)/238(b)/
61(2)(a)/3(5) of BNS r/w Section 3(2)(va) of the Act,
on the main allegation of abducting of the deceased
CRLA No.583 of 2026 Page 2 of 5

Somnath Jani belonging to “SC” category and
committing his murder, along with co-accused persons
and disposing the dead body by entering into
conspiracy with each other.
5. Heard, Mr. Biraja Prasanna Nanda, learned
counsel appearing virtually for the appellants and Mr.
T.K. Acharya, learned Additional Public Prosecutor in
the matter and perused the record. None appears for
the informant/victim despite being duly intimated as
apprised by learned Addl. PP.
6. After having considered the rival submissions
upon perusal of record, there appears allegation against
the appellant No.2-Jitru @ Jitu Gouda for abducting the
deceased and committing his murder as well as
disposing the dead body, whereas the allegation
against the appellant No.1-Rukmani Pani @ Rukmani
Pani Kandhapani Rani Priti is for entering into
conspiracy by calling the deceased to a place and there
appears no allegation against the appellant No.1 for
either participating in abduction of the deceased or
CRLA No.583 of 2026 Page 3 of 5

killing him. The appellants are in custody since
06.08.2025, but in the meantime, some witnesses have
already been examined. Further, the appellant No.1 is a
lady and she is thereby entitled to the proviso
appended to Section 480 of BNSS. In the aforesaid
premises and on consideration of materials placed on
record, this Court while not being inclined to grant bail
to appellant No.2-Jitru @ Jitu Gouda, considers it
proper to admit the appellant No.1-Rukmani Pani @
Rukmani Pani Kandhapani Rani Priti to bail.
7. Hence, the CRLA stands allowed in part and
the impugned order is, hereby, set aside to the extent
of refusal of bail to appellant No.1. Consequently, the
appellant No.1-Rukmani Pani @ Rukmani Pani
Kandhapani Rani Priti is directed to be released on bail
on furnishing bail bonds of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees
Twenty-Five Thousand) with one solvent surety for the
like amount to the satisfaction of the learned Court in
except
seisin of the case on such terms and conditions
cash surety as deem fit and proper by it.
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Needless to say, it is open for the appellant
No.2-Jitru @ Jitu Gouda to renew his prayer for bail
before the learned trial Court under the changed
circumstance of examination of some of the witnesses.
8. 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 9 day of September, 2026/Subhasmita


Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
Signed by: SUBHASMITA DAS
Designation: Sr. Stenographer
Reason: Authentication
Location: High Court of Orissa
Date: 09-Sep-2026 19:36:55
CRLA No.583 of 2026 Page 5 of 5