Cuttack: The Orissa High Court granted Wednesday conditional bail to Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahi in the case registered against him by the Crime Branch in Odisha.
Panigrahi was granted bail on furnishing of bail bonds of Rs 5,00,000 each with two sureties and Rs 24 lakh cash security.
However, there will be no relief for the legislator immediately. He will not be able to walk out of Jharpada jail in Bhubaneswar, as another case filed against him by the State Vigilance over corruption charges is pending.
Odisha Crime Branch had arrested the MLA December 3, last year in connection with a case registered with the Cyber police station. He was arrested under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 469, 471, 120-B of the IPC and Section 66C/66D of IT Act.
Panigrahi was arrested after complaints surfaced that he collected money from people on behalf of Akash Pathak, son of suspended IFS officer Abhay Kant Pathak, on the false promise of providing jobs in a company.
This case relates to impersonation, cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy and other cyber offences by Akash, the Crime Branch had earlier said.
PNN