Cuttack: The Orissa High Court, while rejecting the anticipatory bail plea of web channel owner Sarmistha Rout, the prime accused in the alleged kidnap and murder of cameraman Manas Swain, in its order said that if she surrenders in the court within four weeks and moves for bail, it will be disposed of as expeditiously as possible.
“In view of the available materials on record particularly as it is a case under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, while not inclining to grant anticipatory bail to the petitioner, it is observed that in the event the petitioner surrenders in the court within a period of four weeks from today and moves for bail before the learned court, the same shall be disposed of as expeditiously as possible by the courts in accordance with law. The case records shall be made available to the court concerned for adjudication of the bail application,” Justice S K Sahoo said.
Notably, Bhadrak police arrested two persons — former Information & Public Relations (I&PR) Director (Technical) Niranjan Sethi and his associate Ranjan Nayak — in this case on Monday.
Shamistha, who would be in her early 40s, also owns a vernacular tabloid published fortnightly and Sethi had empanelled her tabloid to receive government advertisements, on the day of his retirement on February 28 this year.
According to police, 60-year-old Sethi, who had also worked as the public relations officer (PRO) of the governor and the chief minister, conspired with Sharmista to kill Swain since he was allegedly in possession of some controversial videos and photos, which could have landed her in trouble.
Swain, 28, went missing from a wedding venue in Bhadrak on February 7 and his body was exhumed at Ranpur in Nayagarh district on March 12.
