The police on Tuesday handed over the key and possession of Sarada Hotel to Ipsit Kumar Pratihari, complying with an order of the State High Court on the Tuesday.
After the disturbance during observance of the Niladri Bije (home coming of the deities after Rath Yatra) ritual of the lord Jagannath in June last, district Collector Arabind Agarwal had filed complaints with the police and a number of temple servitors for misbehaving with him. Agarwal in his complaint with police named a number of temple servitors including Ipsit Pratihari. The police had registered a criminal case and conducted several raids to nab the accused servitors.
The Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) had issued non-bail able warrants against the servitors. Since police failed to apprehend them, they had prayed in the court to confiscate moveable and immovable property, besides bank accounts of Pratihari.
Pratihari had moved the Odisha High Court which after a prolonged hearing set aside the order of the SDJM and directed the police to hand over the property to Pratihari.