Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court on Friday granted additional time to former Odisha minister Pratap Jena to file a counter affidavit to the petition, challenging the Orissa High Court’s reprieve to him in the Mahanga double murder case.
In October 2024, the HC had quashed the order of the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Salepur, that had taken cognisance of offences against the BJD leader in the case. The JFMC court, on September 25, 2023, had found that a prima facie case punishable for the offences under sections 302, 506, 120 B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was made against the former minister.
Following which, Ranjit Kumar Baral, son of BJP leader and chairman of Mahanga block Kulamani Baral who was brutally killed along with his associate Dibyasingha Baral on on the evening of January 2, 2021, while they were returning home on a motorbike, moved the SC.
During the latest proceedings, the apex court accepted Jena’s plea for more time to respond to the SPL. It also granted additional time to the state government to file its reply.
According to the court’s directive, the replies have to be filed within four weeks. Following this, the petitioner will have two weeks to submit a counter-reply.
Notably, nine accused in the case were awarded life imprisonment by the court of additional sessions judge, Salepur, on August 28, 2024.