Orissa HC asks woman to perform cleaning work at bank where she committed fraud

In an out-of-the-ordinary verdict by the Orissa High Court, a woman named Manogyan Patnaik, who is an accused in a bank fraud, was granted bail on the unique condition that she needs to perform cleaning duties at the implicated bank, sources said on Thursday.

Also Read: 'Accused directed to clean Hospital, plant trees': Orissa HC's landmark decision wins hearts

Mortgaged same property multiple times!

Accused Patnaik was involved in a scam where she allegedly mortgaged the same property multiple times, securing loans amounting to Rs 1.05 crore through three different accounts at ICICI Bank located on Cuttack Link Road.

Detailed investigations uncovered that this property had previously been used as collateral for another unpaid loan at the Ashok Nagar branch of the Indian Bank in Bhubaneswar. The Crime Branch had apprehended the woman on February 5.

When processing her bail application, the High Court specified that the accused must clean the bank premises daily between 8.00 AM and 10.00 AM for a period of two months. Should she fail to meet this condition, her bail will be revoked.

“The Petitioner being in custody in EOW, CID-CB, Bhubaneswar P.S Case No-01 of 2025 corresponding to C.T Case No-01 of 2025, pending in the court of the learned pending in the court of learned Presiding Officer, Court designated under OPID Act, Cuttack, registered for the alleged commission of offences under Sections 420/467/468/471/120-B of IPC, has filed this petition for her release on bail,” Justice Dr. S.K. Panigrahi’s order read.

Must Read: Cutting large number of trees worse than killing human beings: SC

“Without going into the merit of the case and based on the facts and circumstances of the case, it is directed that the Petitioner be released on bail in the aforesaid case with some stringent terms and conditions as deemed just and proper by the learned court in seisin over the matter with further conditions,” the Court order mentioned.