Cease work to continue, decide Odisha HC lawyers

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Sep 26:

The Odisha High Court Bar Association today decided to continue with its ceasework to protest against the arrest of former advocate general Asok Mohanty  by the CBI for his alleged links with the Artha Tatwa (AT) Group, a major player in the mega chit fund scam in Odisha.

After a general body meeting of the Association, office bearers said they will decide on their future course of action in the matter tomorrow. They claimed that bar associations at the district level have joined them in the protest by resorting to ceasework.

Mohanty’s counsel is likely to move the Khordha district sessions court to seek his bail.

On Thursday, the Odisha High Court had asked Mohanty’s counsel to move the Khordha district sessions court for bail and directed the CBI to submit the case diary and related documents by the first half tomorrow.

The High Court had also directed the district sessions court in Bhubaneswar to take up the matter in the first half on Friday and give a copy of the verdict to Mohanty’s counsel by 1 pm.

The Odisha High Court Bar Association is on a cease-work agitation since Wednesday in protest against Mohanty’s arrest and has described it as ‘unjustified’.

Mohanty’s bail plea was rejected by the Special CBI CJM court in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.

Mohanty’s counsel questioned as to how Mohanty was guilty as Pradeep Kumar Sethy, who was in jail, failed to encash cheques worth Rs 30 lakh issued by Mohanty towards the balance payment of the house Mohanty had purchased from him.