Cuttack: A sessions court in Cuttack has set aside the acquittal of a Nigerian national accused of cheating a local woman of over Rs 28.67 lakh and ordered a fresh trial.
Second Additional Sessions Judge Priyaranjan Mishra delivered the judgment on May 29, allowing separate appeals filed by the complainant, Solanshree Mohanty, and the state government. The court set aside the January 29, 2026, acquittal order passed by the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Cuttack, in the case against Orajaka Patrick Chizoram.
According to case details, 37-year-old Chizoram was arrested by the Odisha State CID-Crime Branch from New Delhi on December 15, 2022. He allegedly posed online as a Netherlands-based gynaecologist to gain the trust of the Cuttack woman and defraud her of Rs 28.67 lakh. He has been in custody since his arrest and is currently lodged at the state holding centre at Athagarh.
Reports from the time of the arrest indicated that police recovered 16 debit cards, 20 SIM cards, and other items linked to the alleged fraud during the operation.
The sessions court identified serious procedural lapses in the original trial. It noted that the prosecution had requested time to examine key witnesses, including two seizure witnesses as well as the scientific and investigating officers. However, the trial court closed the prosecution evidence on September 23, 2025, before these crucial testimonies could be recorded, and proceeded to acquit the accused.
In his order, Judge Mishra observed that the trial court had committed “grave illegality” by not providing adequate opportunity to examine these material witnesses. “Criminal adjudication should not suffer on account of denial of reasonable opportunity to adduce material evidence. The court is duty bound to ensure a fair opportunity to both sides so that the truth may emerge through complete appreciation of evidence,” the judge emphasised.
The sessions court described the acquittal as suffering from “procedural informality affecting fair adjudication.” It has remitted the matter to the JMFC court with directions to allow the prosecution a reasonable opportunity to examine the remaining witnesses and decide the case afresh in accordance with law.
Chizoram’s custody status will remain unchanged during the retrial.
