The Orissa High Court on Tuesday directed the Sessions Judge, Puri, to expedite trial in Pipili gangrape case even as it made its disinclination to grant bail to the main accused in the case, Prashant Pradhan.
With the single judge bench of Justice S C Parija’s rejection being apparent, the main accused Prashant alias Pasia sought permission to withdraw the bail petition. He was granted permission to do so.
Prashant had moved the petition for bail stating that there was no material evidence against him which could involve him in the alleged crime. This was contested by additional government advocate V Narsingh, who stated that the crime in itself was a heinous one and there was ample evidence against the accused. Bail should not be granted at this stage, he argued.
Considering the case and materials available on record, the court was not inclined to grant bail.
Prashant was arrested by the police on January 16 from Jatni. Three others, including his brother Sukanta Pradhan, Premananda Nayak and Guna Chandra Swain were arrested subsequently.
The Crime Branch, in its chargesheet, has named Prashant as the prime accused in the case and charged him under Sections 307, 341, 354, 506 and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.