Niladri Bije fiasco: HC relief to absconding servitor

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court today ordered interim stay on the action of the police in issuing non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Kasinath Khuntia, a servitor of Shri Jagannath Temple and declaring him an absconder.

Talking to OTV, counsel of the petitioner Subrata Nayak said without any FIR and complaint, police has issued non-bailable warrant against Khuntia and declared him as absconder. “While the court has not declared Khuntia as absconder, police has pasted his photo after declaring him as absconder. Considering the above, we had challenged the proceedings in the High Court issued interim stay and directed the police not to take any action against Khuntia till further order. The court will hear the case after the Durga Puja vacation”, he added.

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Nayak said there was no justification of the police to issue non-bailable arrest warrant against his client. “If the police has the power to arrest him in a cognizable offence, it could have arrested him suo motu without seeking permission from the court. Since there is no complaint against my client, issuing NBW against him is thoroughly unjustified”, he pointed out.