Court rejects bail of Kandhamal main accused Manoj Pradhan

One of the main accused in the Kandhamal violence, Manoj Pradhan, was Tuesday denied bail by the Supreme Court.

The BJP MLA from G Udayagiri was denied the bail by a division bench of Justices B Sudershan Reddy and S S Nijhar in the murder of Parikh Nayak.

Nayak, a Christian, was reportedly murdered during the violence on August 27, 2008. His body was later burned to erase traces of identification.

A fast track court found Pradhan guilty in the case and awarded seven years of rigorous imprisonment. However, it did not take long for Pradhan to walk free after procuring a bail from the Orissa High Court.

The court's decision was later challenged by Mrs. Kanaka Rekha Nayak, wife of the deceased Christian. A criminal appeal was filed against the bail given to Pradhan who had at least 12 cases registered for his involvement in the 2008 violence.

On January 25, the Supreme Court reproved the bail given to Pradhan and said the "High Court ought to have taken the serious nature of allegations and the findings recorded by the trial Court".

"The impugned order does not record any reason whatsoever except vague observation that nature of allegations have been taken into consideration. The order clearly reflects that the High Court was mainly impressed by the fact that the respondent is a sitting MLA. In the circumstances, we find it difficult to sustain the order," it observed.

"For the aforesaid reasons, the impugned order is set aside and the matter is remitted to the High Court for its fresh consideration in accordance with law."

Commenting on the court's rejection of bail, Attorney Bibhu Dutta Das of the Orissa High Court and member of the Christian Legal Association, said the "decision is truly to be praised as it will have a significant influence on the pending cases."

"Sending Pradhan back to jail will also reduce the threats against witnesses in many cases. The Supreme court's decision has restored our faith in the judicial system," he added.