Court grants bail to Odisha MLA Pradeep Maharathy

Bhubaneswar: In a huge sigh of relief for Pipili MLA Pradeep Maharathy, a special court of Additional District & Sessions Judge here today granted him conditional bail in connection with attack on a poll flying squad.

The bail was granted against sureties of Rs 50,000 and two bailers. The court has laid down conditions for Maharathy not to influence the witnesses and to cooperate with police in investigation.

Earlier in the day, police had submitted the concerned case diary and injury report in the court.

The court had on April 24 deferred the bail plea hearing of Maharathy till April 27 as police sought additional time to submit the case diary and the injury report

Maharathy, who is also an MLA candidate for the Pipili assembly seat, was arrested on April 22 under Sections 307, 353, 341, 332, 147, 148, 149, 188, 294, 333, 171 (B) & 506 of the IPC and 123 of Representation of the People Act.

He was produced before court and sent to Jharpada jail here. However, he complained of uneasiness, following which he was shifted to Capital Hospital and is yet to be discharged.

In a related development, two persons, identified as Basudev Jena and Manoranjan Pradhan, were today arrested over their alleged involvement in attacking the poll flying squad.