Plant, maintain 50 saplings of mango, neem, tamarind: Orissa High Court bail condition for knife-attack accused

Justice Sanjeeb K Panigrahi said if the petitioner violates any condition of bail, his bail will be cancelled. (Image enhanced using AI)

“The Petitioner shall plant 50 saplings of local variety like mango, neem, tamarind, etc. in and around his village over the Government land/ community land/ private land, if it is in the possession of the Petitioner or his family members,” the court said.

The court asked the police station concerned to coordinate with the local forest officer and monitor whether the accused had planted the saplings or not.

The accused, the court said, should file an affidavit after plantation of the saplings before the local police station, assuring that he will maintain those plants for two years.

The high court, in its December 24 order, directed the district nursery to extend the “helping hand” to the accused and supply the sapling and instructed the revenue authority to assist the accused in identifying the location for plantation of the saplings if the land is not available.

Bail conditions

Apart from the condition of planting 50 saplings, Justice Panigrahi also instructed Mallick to

• Appear before the trial court on each date of posting of the case;
• Not threaten the victim or her family members in any manner;
• Not indulge himself in any criminal activities in future and
• Not tamper with the evidence of the prosecution witnesses in any manner.

The court also pointed out that if the accused violates any of the bail conditions, it would lead to the cancellation of the bail.

Case, arguments

The facts of the case were that the petitioner, along with his other friends, attacked one Trilochan Pradhan and his cousin Samanta Mallick with a knife when they were preparing food in their house. It was stated that due to the alleged assault, both of them sustained grievous injuries and were shifted to the hospital.

The accused’s representative, advocate Mahes Das, praying for the release of his client, contended that his client was in “no way” connected to the offences alleged against him.

He further stated that he was entangled in this case due to some “previous enmity”.

On the contrary, state’s counsel, additional standing counsel, Gayatri Patra, opposed the bail plea and argued that such a type of offence is not tolerable in a law-abiding society.