Raja was granted conditional bail on deposit of Rs 50,000 and two sureties.
As per reports, the High Court has asked Raja to depose at the Lingaraj police station every week. He has also been issued a strict directive to stay away from any kind of criminal or offensive activities.
Earlier in last March, Raja’s bail plea was rejected by the Bhubaneswar Additional District Judge Court following which he had moved the High Court seeking bail.
It may be noted that Raja was arrested from Goa on May 28, 2008 in connection with the high profile murder of judo coach Biranchi Das.
The Bhubaneswar District and Sessions Court convicted and sentenced him to life imprisonment in December 2010 and he had since been cooling his heels at the Bhubaneswar based Jharpara Special Jail.
He was also awarded a four-year jail term in October 2011 for abducting Arun Mantri, brother of Ollywood actress Bidusmita, in April 2008. There are as many as 40 cases pending against Raja.
Moreover, the apex court has asked the HC to conduct a hearing on the bail plea within four weeks, sources said.
Earlier in March, a team of three officials from the Corporate Affairs Ministry had quizzed Hansda in Jharpara Jail in Bhubaneswar in connection with the chit fund scam.
Acting on a petition filed by the advocate of the investigation team of Corporate Affairs of Government of India, the Special CBI court had allowed the Ministry’s officials to interrogate Hansda in jail.
Hansda is currently lodged at the Jharpara Special Jail in Bhubaneswar. He was suspended from the BJD after his arrest by the CBI on November 4, 2014.
According to sources, the MLA has filed for bail on health grounds.
Earlier, the Bhubaneswar Special CJM CBI court had rejected his bail petition. Prabhat had also applied for bail in the Khurda District and Sessions Court.
After being arrested by the CBI on September 19 in connection with an dubious land deal with Seashore Group chief Prasant Dash, Biswal was shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack following advice from a four-member team of doctors at the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar.
https://youtu.be/eFVI5hivZbc
Though Biswal was on a 4-day CBI remand which was to end today, he was produced before the CBI court by the central investigating agency on Friday - a day earlier than the expiry of his remand period.
Biswal's lawyer had prayed to the court to admit the legislator to Capital hospital as he is unwell. After hearing both the parties the court had sent Biswal to Jharpara jail and had instructed the jail superintendent to conduct a health examination and shift him to the hospital if required.
It may be mentioned that hearing on bail petition of Biswal will be held today. Biswal’s lawyer Anup Senapati on Monday had said that the legislator will soon file a bail petition in court on health grounds as he underwent a surgery recently.
The CBI had arrested Biswal on Monday for his alleged links with chit fund firm Seashore Group. He had been taken on remand after permission of the CBI court.
On the other hand, it is believed that Biswal might face interrogation by Enforcement Directorate (ED) after the Joint Director and Assistant Director of the agency visited the CBI office today and met some senior officials.
https://youtu.be/eYf4yy9KQ6E
The released prisoners include inmates of Biju Patnaik open air (ashram) jail in Jamujhari, and Jharpara Jail in Bhubaneswar, and also from jails in Sundergarh, Balasore, Bolangir, Choudwar, Baripada, Puri and Jajpur.
Seven prisoners have been released from Biju Patnaik open air (ashram) jail in Jamujhari.
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“From the time I came to know about the decision I have not eaten because I am very happy,” said one of the released prisoners.
“As per the criminal procedure code 432, the convicts have been released. All over Odisha, 132 prisoners will be released and in the first phase 33 are being released,” said superintendent of Biju Patnaik open air (ashram) jail in Jamujhari, Rabindra Swain.
According to sources, a team of SFIO interrogated Seashore chief Prashant Das, his brother Pravat Das and middleman Subhankar Nayak.
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Recently, CBI special court in Bhubaneswar had granted permission to interrogate the accused and asked the agency to complete their probe within a month.
Earlier AT chit fund chief, Pradeep Sethy along with arrested Manoj Patnaik, Jyotiprakash Jayprakash, Srikrushna Padhi and Deepak Parekh were interrogated by the SFIO team.
According to sources, a 5-member team of the SFIO visited the Jharpara jail and is interrogating the accused.
Also Read: ED attaches assets Rs 23 cr of Artha Tatwa group
AT chief, Pradeep Sethy along with arrested Manoj Patnaik, Jyotiprakash Jayprakash, Srikrushna Padhi and Deepak Parekh are being interrogated by the SFIO officials.
“The investigation is going on and it will take another 3-4 days. After our investigation is complete, we will give all the information,” said additional director of SFIO, Manoj Kumar Sahoo.
In his letter to the State government, Azad has alleged inordinate delay in his trial which had not begun even five years after his arrest for his alleged involvement in Maoist activities. He has also termed it as a violation of his fundamental rights.
His other demands included filing of case and subsequent appearance in court within 3-6 months of a person’s arrest, refraining from re-arrest when acquitted by a court or out on bail, to be produced in court as per a scheduled date and granting of political prisoner status.
“My client is facing trial in a total of 12 cases since 2011. This is the third time he has restored to a hunger strike and in the earlier two instances he was assured of early trial. Last time, the Khurda collector met Azad and gave assurance,” said P Kameswar Rao, legal counsel of Azad.
12 inmates of various jails across the state have lent their support to Azad’s cause.
Meanwhile, Azad's mother who had come to meet her son in the jail had to go back with without meeting him as the jail authorities did not give permission for it.