SURJIT KUMAR DHAL Vs. STATE OF ODISHA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Petitioner, who is a Senior Journalist having 20 years of experience in his profession and presently working as the Editor-in-Chief of an Online News Portal 'Reporters Today' and Editor-in-Chief of Odia Daily 'Mahabharat', has approached this Court by filing the present bail application challenging rejection of his bail application vide order dtd. 12/1/2024 passed by the learned Presiding Officer, Designated Court under the OPID Act, Cuttack, arising out of Economic Offence Wing Bhubaneswar P.S. Case No.26 of 2023, corresponding to C.T. Case No.125 of 2023 for commission of offence punishable under Ss. 420/467/468/471/506 of the I.P.C.

(2.) The prosecution case as unfurled from the F.I.R. allegation is that the Informant, namely, one Kalinga Keshari Rath has a real estate business since last 12 years. It further appears that he has various projects in and around Bhubaneswar and Puri. In connection with his real estate business, the petitioner is required to obtain various clearances/approvals from the Government/agencies/authorities for his construction work. In April, 2023, the Informant came in contact with the present Petitioner, who had come to the Informant in connection with booking of a flat through a property broker. During such conversion with the Informant, the Petitioner introduced himself as a Senior Journalist and that he is interested in booking two flats for his upcoming projects. As per the allegations made in the F.I.R., the Petitioner gave an impression that he has good rapport with highly placed Government officials and that he could easily get the official works of the Informant done. Believing the words of the Petitioner, the Informant entrusted some of his official works pertaining to environment clearance, pollution certificate and Government/Authorities approval for his future projects.

(3.) In course of such conversation with the Petitioner, the Informant expressed before the Informant that he is interested in launching a new T.V. channel and for such purpose, he needs funding from the Informant.