Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has granted interim protection from arrest to singer Arpita Choudhury and music composer Somesh Satpathy in connection with a case linked to the death of popular Ollywood playback singer Humane Sagar.
The interim relief was granted by the HC on Monday while hearing the anticipatory bail plea filed by the two in a case registered at Markat Nagar police station in Cuttack.
The High Court directed that the two applicants shall not be taken into custody until the next date of hearing. The court also sought the submission of the case diary for perusal.
However, the HC made it clear that the interim relief is conditional, stating that Arpita Choudhury and Somesh Satpathy must fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
The order was passed by a division bench headed by Justice V. Narasingh after a preliminary hearing of the anticipatory bail application. The matter has been posted for further hearing on February 16.
It may be noted that Humane Sagar’s mother Sephali Suna had lodged a complaint at Markat Nagar police station on December 21, following which police registered a case against nine persons, including Arpita Choudhury and Somesh Satpathy. Subsequently, the duo approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail.
Sephali Suna urged police to probe possibilities such as foul play, poisoning or intoxication, physical or mental harassment, abetment, conspiracy, criminal negligence, financial motive, and tampering with evidence, including digital records.
Humane Sagar died on November 17 2025 while undergoing treatment for multiple health complications at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
