Orissa HC denies anticipatory bail to Archana Nag’s aide in honey trap case

In a major blow to Shradhanjali Behera, the associate of honey trap case mastermind Archana Nag, the Orissa High Court on Tuesday refused to grant her anticipatory bail that would protect her from arrest.  

Behera had moved the HC seeking anticipatory bail apprehending her arrest in the case. She has been named as an accused in the chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the case. 

“The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had summoned us and we joined the investigation. The ED told the court that it has named Shradhanjali Behera as an accused in the chargesheet and the PMLA court has issued summon to her for an appearance on January 24,” said petitioner’s counsel Bibhuti Bhusan Choudhury. 

Choudhury said that as per the guidelines of the Supreme Court, if a special court issues summons for appearance to an accused, there is no scope for anticipatory bail.

“Therefore, the court did not entertain the plea. The petitioner will appear in the appropriate court on appropriate date,” he added.

On January 9, the ED submitted a 2241-page chargesheet in Bhubaneswar Sessions Court pertaining to the honeytrap case involving Archana Nag and her husband Jagabandhu Chand. 

In the chargesheet, it was mentioned that Archana blackmailed film producer Akshay Parija with the help of her associate Shradhanjali. The chargesheet also mentioned about Archana blackmailing a Nayagarh-based political leader and businessman.

Reported by Gautam Panda, OTV