Odisha HC Grants Six-Week Interim Bail To Accused In ₹27 Lakh Medical Admission Case, Taking Note Of His Refund Offer

The petitioner sought regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in a case alleging offences under Sections 406 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

The informant alleged that the petitioner received ₹77 lakh to facilitate her daughter’s admission to a medical college; the petitioner’s counsel acknowledged an alleged payment of ₹27 lakh, while the informant’s counsel stated that ₹7 lakh had been paid to the college and that the petitioner had offered to refund ₹19.85 lakh.

The petitioner had been in custody since 8 August 2026, the investigation was complete, and a charge-sheet had been filed.

The petitioner also had one criminal antecedent, stated to be unrelated to the present allegation.

Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 provides the relevant statutory basis for the petitioner’s bail application.

Sections 406 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 were the alleged offences in the underlying case.

The order cites no precedent and does not articulate a broader test for granting bail; it records an interim-bail decision based on the circumstances of the case and permits the court in seisin to impose further appropriate conditions.

The Court considered the submissions that the petitioner had been in custody since 8 August 2026 and that the investigation was complete and the charge-sheet filed.

It also noted the parties’ competing accounts concerning the alleged payments, the undisputed payment of ₹7 lakh to the medical college, and the petitioner’s affidavit expressing willingness to refund ₹19.85 lakh.

On that record, the Court ordered interim bail for six weeks; it did not determine the truth of the allegations or grant final regular bail.

That court may impose additional conditions, and breach of any condition may entail cancellation of bail.

The petitioner was directed to surrender before the concerned court and produce a surrender certificate on or before the next listing.

The matter was listed for the week commencing 4 January 2027.

Although the petitioner had expressed willingness to refund ₹19.85 lakh within four weeks of release, the operative order did not expressly make repayment a condition of bail.