The Odisha High Court has granted transit bail to former Additional Chief Secretary of Odisha, Ms. Rajalakshmi (1974-batch IAS officer), and her husband, Mr. Sushil Kumar Raman, in relation to a land deal case filed against them at the Vasant Kunj North Police Station in New Delhi. The retired IAS officer and her spouse, permanent residents of Palashpalli in Bhubaneswar, submitted an anticipatory bail petition on October 4th.
During the hearing on Monday, Advocate Ramakanta Sarangi, representing the couple, argued that they were falsely implicated by the individual who purchased their Delhi Development Authority (DDA) flat, alleging it was an act of harassment. The couple bought the flat through a Conveyance Deed in 2001 and sold it in 2016.
Mr. Sarangi emphasized that without the High Court’s protection, there was a risk of arrest by the Delhi Police. However, Justice Aditya Kumar Mohapatra noted that the anticipatory bail application could not be addressed at this time, as the case falls under the jurisdiction of New Delhi, not the Orissa High Court.
Nonetheless, Justice Mohapatra recognized the petitioners’ age and lack of prior criminal records, deciding to grant them transit bail for eight weeks. He instructed the couple to surrender to the appropriate court handling the FIR against them in New Delhi. Justice Mohapatra also urged the relevant court to expedite the consideration of their regular bail application in accordance with the law.
