Balasore Self-immolation Case: HC rejects bail pleas of principal, HoD

Cuttack: Orissa high court on Wednesday rejected the bail petitions of a suspended principal and head of department of education department of a college in Balasore who were arrested in connection with the self-immolation case of a 20-year-old female student.The student had set herself ablaze outside the principal’s office on July 12, alleging that the HoD sexually harassed her. She sustained serious burn injuries and was admitted to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. She died while undergoing treatment on July 14.The single judge bench of Justice Aditya Kumar Mohapatra, while rejecting the bail pleas said: “Both have been specifically named in the FIR. There are also direct allegations against them with regard to the harassment caused.Therefore, their role in the alleged crime is required to be investigated.

Since no final charge sheet has been filed, it would not be fair on the part of this court to enlarge them on bail at this juncture.

”However, Justice Mohapatra added: “While rejecting their bail applications at this stage, this court grants them a right to renew their prayers after filing of the final chargesheet by the crime branch.”But Justice Mohapatra granted bail to a student of the college and an almnus, who were arrested on charges of abetment to suicide in the case being probed by the CID-Crime Branch police.

“Taking into consideration the nature of the allegation against both, further keeping in view their age and the fact that they are students, that they belong to the locality and there is no chance of them absconding, this court is inclined to release both on bail conditionally,” Justice Mohapatra said.