BJD legislator Tripathy released from jail

Bhubaneswar: After spending nearly five months behind the bars, suspended BJD legislator Pravat Tripathy was released from Jharapada jail here today. He was greeted by his supporters and party members outside the jail.

Orissa High Court had yesterday granted the Banki MLA conditional bail on a personal bond of Rs 10 lakh. The court, however, had directed him to submit his passport and fully co-operate with the investigators.

Tripathy, a former government chief whip, was earlier denied bail by the lower courts. The High Court had also rejected his anticipatory bail application before CBI arrested him on October 31 last year in connection with the Artha Tatwa chit fund scam. He was suspended from BJD soon after his arrest.