CUTTACK: The Orissa high court on Tuesday granted bail to Archana Nag in an alleged sextortion case registered at Nayapalli police station in Bhubaneswar.
While allowing her bail plea, Justice V Narasingh said, "Taking into account the nature of allegation, period of custody, punishment prescribed, keeping in view the guidelines of the Supreme Court and welfare of six-year-old child of the petitioner, this court directs her release on bail." Justice Narasingh added, "Additionally, it is directed that the petitioner shall cooperate with the ongoing investigation, shall not leave the state of Odisha without express permission of the concerned lower court and shall not try to threaten or intimidate any of the prosecution witnesses."
Though the high court granted her bail in one case, Archana will continue to remain in jail as she was arrested in a similar case registered at Khandagiri police station and another one by the enforcement directorate (ED).
Archana was arrested on October 6 last year following an FIR filed at Nayapalli police station by film producer Akshay Parija. She has since been in custody for allegedly demanding ransom from Parija and threatening to publicize photographs and video of his intimate moments with a co-accused following non-payment of the ransom amount. Archana's counsel Prabhu Prasanna Behera argued that her further continuance in custody is not warranted and is in fact punitive.
The state counsel, on the other hand, opposed bail on the ground that it would derail the ongoing investigation into the caseHowever, Justice Narasingh observed, "It is apt to note that though chargesheet has been filed on December 23, 2022, nothing has been placed on record regarding further investigation."
Archana had moved the high court after the second additional sessions judge, Bhubaneswar, rejected her bail plea saying, "During investigation so far, the material collected by the IO, prima facie shows the involvement of the present petitioner in extortion of money."
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