BJP MLA Manoj Pradhan. Telegraph picture

Cuttack, March 18: Orissa High Court today granted bail to BJP legislator Manoj Pradhan, who was sentenced to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment for his role in the murder of Parikhita Naik during the Kandhamal riots.

The fast track court-I, Phulbani, had sentenced him to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 6,000 on June 29, 2010.

The high court had earlier granted bail to the Ghumusar Udaygiri MLA on July 7, 2010. But the Supreme Court had set aside the bail order on January 25, 2011, after Kanaka Rekha (wife of deceased) filed a special leave petition and remanded it back to the high court for fresh hearing.

Acting on it, the high court granted bail to the 36–year-old jailed MLA, who had since surrendered and is in jail.

“The bench of Justice Sanju Panda granted him bail on the condition that he will not tamper with any evidence related to the cases pending against him and will not terrorise the witnesses,” petitioner’s counsel Sarbeswar Behera told The Telegraph.

“He has also been asked to furnish Rs 20,000 and two sureties of like amount to the satisfaction of the trial court. Justice Sanju Panda has further imposed restrictions on his movement out of the country without taking permission of the court,” Behera said.

Earlier it was pointed out to the court that the petitioner had been slapped with 14 cases in connection with Kandhamal riots. While he was acquitted in eight cases, he was convicted in two. Four more cases against him were pending. He was not an MLA during the riots. But, he was granted bail by the high court during trial when he was an MLA. But there had been no allegation against him on behalf the prosecution till today.

“The court has endorsed the plea that the petition for bail deserves to be considered liberally as the criminal appeal against the sentence by the trial court will take at least 10 years for being taken up for hearing. So, if not granted bail, he will have to remain in jail custody for that period,” Behera said.

The high court had on November 22, 2010, granted bail to Pradhan in another case in which he was convicted. The fast track court-II of Phulbani had sentenced him to six years’ imprisonment in connection with the murder of Bikram Naik of Bedinaju during the riots.