Mahanga double murder case: BJD MLA Pratap Jena gets relief 

BJD legislator Pratap Jena got further relief in the Mahanga double murder case, as the Salipur JMFC court on Monday extended the date of the next hearing to December 26. 

On November 18, the Salipur JMFC court was to hold the hearing of two petitions. One petition was filed by Pratap Jena seeking exemption from personal appearance in the court under section 205 of the IPC. The other petition was filed by the Baral family seeking to add the petition of Jena’s personal appearance to the main case under section 210 of the IPC. 

The main case (the government-registered case) is related to the murder of Kulamani Baral(74) and Dibyasingh Baral (82) in which police have filed charge sheets against some accused.   

Appearing before the court, Jena’s counsel had told the JMFC court that since the case is sub-judice in the High Court, they wanted more time. 

Also Read: Trouble mounts for MLA Pratap Jena, case filed against him for 'masterminding murderous attack' 

While hearing the case, the court today granted the time and set December 26 as the next date for the hearing of the two petitions. 

“The court has granted us time and set the date of the next hearing on December 26 to hear the 205 petition and we will file our objection,” said Bijay Ketan Nayak, Pratap Jena’s advocate.

On the other hand, the Mahanga double murder case is scheduled to be heard in the High Court on December 19. 

MLA Jena has been booked under Sections 302, 506, and 120 (b) of the IPC.