Orissa High Court
Basanti Das @ Barsa vs State Of Orissa on 30 January, 2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
CRLMP No. 1711 of 2025
Basanti Das @ Barsa .... Petitioner
Mr. B.R. Sahu, Advocate
-versus-
1. State of Orissa, represented through
its Secretary, Home Department,
Bhubaneswar
2. Commissioner of Police,
Bhubaneswar
3. DCP Bhubaneswar (UPD),
Bhubaneswar
4. I.I.C., Capital Police Station
5. Satyabrata Das @ Dash .... Opp. Parties
Mr. Saroj Kumar Rout,
Additional Standing Counsel
CORAM:
HON'BLE MISS JUSTICE SAVITRI RATHO
ORDER
Order No. 30.01.2026
(Through hybrid Mode)
03. 1. Perused the instructions dated 28.01.2026 of the I.I.C.,
Capital Police Station where he has stated that notices were served on 24.10.2025 to accused Namita Patnaik and Rashmita Pattnaik. The copies of the notices are enclosed with the instructions, they reveal that the accused persons had been directed to appear in the Police Station on 02.11.2025 for the purpose of investigation.
2. There is no mention in the instructions if they have appeared as per the notice and are cooperating with the investigation.
Page 1 of 53. Mr. B.R. Sahu, learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that the main accused Satyabrata Das @ Dash is very much available in his house, but he has not been arrested. As he is a reporter and president of the Odisha Digital Media Mahasangh, the police is not taking any steps to arrest him even though he is moving around freely in the locality. Apart from staying in his house, he is also attending meetings. It has also been stated in the petition that Opposite Party No.5 - Satyabrata Das @ Dash is moving scot free and threatening the Petitioner on her mobile 8117032077. Paragraphs 11 and 12 of the CRLMP are extracted below:-
"11. That the opposite party No. 5 namely Satyabrata Das @Dash filed an Anticipatory Bail application before the Hon'ble High Court of Orissa which was numbered as ABLAPL No. 12190/2025. By order dtd. 13/11/2025 this Hon'ble court has disposed of the aforesaid ABLAPL and vacated the interim order. Copy of order dtd. 13/11/2025 passed in ABLAPL No. 12190/2025 is annexed herewith as Annexure - 6.
12. That though the F.I.R has been registered on 03.09.2025, there is no progress in the investigation. Accused person is moving scot free and threatening the petitioner to withdraw the F.I.R, failing which he will kill the entire family members of the petitioner by engaging hired Gundas. Due to arbitrary action on the part of the Opp.Party No-4, the present petitioner was Page 2 of 5 compelled to approach the Opp.Party No-3 by submitting a representation dtd.18/11/2025 and dtd. 24/11/2025. That, on 03.09.2025, Capital P.S. case No. 483/2025 was registered against Satyabrata Das, Namita Pattnaik and Rashmita Pattnaik for committing offence U/S 296 /126(2)/115(2)/74 /351(2) /303(2)/3(5) of BNS, 2023. In the said representation, present Petitioner has stated that many days have been elapsed but till today no concrete action has been taken against the accused persons by the Investigating agencies. After vacation of interim order by this Hon'ble court in ABLAPL No. 12190/2025, opposite party is still moving scot free and threatening the present Petitioner and her family members to withdraw all the cases or else, he will kill all her family members by engaging supari killer. Present Petitioner is subjected to threats, harassment and abuse by filthy language through various sources such as whatsapp messages, facebook audio call and calls from unknown numbers. Present Petitioner visited Capital P.S., Airfield P.S. and Khandagiri P.S. for more than 10 to 15 times but there is no progress in the investigation by the I.O and the 1.0 have failed to arrest the Opposite party No. 5. namely Satyabrata Das. Opp.party no-5 is repeatedly threatening the present Petitioner and her Page 3 of 5 husband that no court, no police, no Advocate, no law ete can do anything to him. The said Satyabrata Das@Dash (Opposite party No. 5) is having 12 numbers of criminal cases against him. Local police out of political pressure is not taking any action against the opposite party No. 5 (Satyabrata Das). Copy of representation dtd. 18/11/2025 and 24/11/2025 submitted by the petitioner before the Opp. Party No-2 are annexed herewith as Annexure-7 series."
4. The FIR in Capital P.S. Case No. 483 of 2025 has been registered on 03.09.2025. Four months have elapsed since then. In the instructions dated 25.01.2026, it is stated that accused Satyabrata Das @ Dash is absconding from his house and locality and steps have been taken to apprehend him, what steps have been taken, have not been stated.
5. Considering the averments in the aforesaid paragraphs and the instructions it is apparent that the I.O. and IIC have not taken steps in accordance with law and to arrest him.
6. It is expected that the Opposite Party No.4 will act in accordance with law and proceed with the investigation and arrest the Opposite Party No.5 - Satyabrata Das @ Dash if he has not been granted protection from arrest by any Court.
7. It is open to the Petitioner to approach the DCP, Bhubaneswar, for change of I.O. in the case. If on enquiry, the DCP finds that the I.I.C./I.O., is not taking steps for fair and Page 4 of 5 proper investigation in the case, he should take a decision regarding change of the I.O. within two weeks from today.
8. If the Petitioner is still aggrieved by any action/inaction of the police, it is open to her to avail the alternative remedy which is available to her.
9. The CRLMP is disposed of with the aforesaid observations.
10. Urgent certified copy of this order be granted on proper application.
(Savitri Ratho) Judge Sukanta Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed Signed by: SUKANTA KUMAR BEHERA Designation: Senior Stenographer Reason: Authentication Page 5 of 5 Location: Orissa High Court, Cuttack Date: 04-Feb-2026 19:38:05