HC directs Agri Min to seek bail from lower court

While hearing the anticipatory bail plea, Justice S C Parija directed Rout to appear before Jagatsinghpur SDJM in four weeks time to get bail. The lower court might set conditions while granting bail, the judge said.

Fearing arrest, the minister had moved the upper court for anticipatory bail. 

During the court proceedings, the defence lawyer contested that the police case registered against Rout is politically motivated. On the other hand, the public prosecutor claimed that the case registered against Rout is non-bailable.

It may be recalled that Rout was entangled in casteist row after allegedly making objectionable remarks against local MP, MLA, and ADM. The minister while addressing a public meeting at Kujang on August 18 last year had referred them as ‘Harijans’.

Following the incident, District SC&ST welfare association had registered FIR against the minister.