Inside Court of the Orissa High Court on Thursday, the mood was measured, not dramatic. Justice Sibo Sankar Mishra quietly worked through medical reports and police papers before allowing bail to a man accused of a violent assault that left a young woman with serious jaw injuries. The case had drawn attention locally because of its brutality and the allegation of an attempt to kill.
Background
The petitioner, Surya Narayan @ Surya Pradhan, is an accused in a Jagannathprasad police case registered in June 2025. According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on 26 June around 10:15 in the morning, when the informant’s daughter was allegedly attacked with a wooden stick.
Police claim the blow was aimed at her head. In trying to protect herself, the girl raised her hands, but still suffered a severe injury near her ear. She was first treated at Jagannathprasad hospital and later shifted to Bhubaneswar for advanced care. Medical records later confirmed fractures to the jaw and damage near the ear.
A local magistrate had earlier rejected Surya’s bail plea in September. Since then, he has remained in custody. With no other bail application pending, he moved the High Court seeking relief.
Court’s Observations
During the hearing, the State placed the injury report before the court. The document described fractures of the mandible, including a parasymphysis fracture and a sub-condylar fracture on the left side. The investigating officer also confirmed that the injuries were “grievous” and could have been caused by the seized wooden stick.
At the same time, the defence flagged an important point. Counsel argued that a counter-complaint had also been filed by the accused, suggesting a confrontation rather than a one-sided assault. Though the police had not registered it as an FIR, the judge noted that “from the allegation and counter-allegation, there appears to have been a confronted free fight on the date of incident.”
The bench also took note of how long the accused had already spent behind bars. Surya has been in custody since 3 September 2025, with the trial yet to begin.
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Decision
Balancing the seriousness of the injuries with the period of custody and the overall circumstances, the court decided to grant bail. “Regard being had to the period of custody and the nature of injury,” Justice Mishra observed, the petitioner deserved conditional release.
The High Court directed that Surya be released on bail with strict safeguards. He must report to the local police station every fifteen days for three months, cannot leave the trial court’s jurisdiction, and must attend all hearing dates. He has also been barred from contacting the victim or her family and warned not to tamper with evidence or commit any offence while on bail. Any violation, the court made clear, could lead to cancellation of bail.
Case Title: Surya Narayan @ Surya vs State of Odisha
Case No.: BLAPL No. 9608 of 2025
Case Type: Bail Application (Attempt to Murder allegation)
Decision Date: 19 December 2025
