The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Odisha Government for the arrest of Maoist interlocutor Dandapani Mohanty’s son and Odisha Jan Morcha (OJM) leader Sangram Mohanty. The court passed serious strictures against the State Government for arresting Sangram again after he was released on bail on January 27 this year. The Supreme Court Bench consisting of Justice V Gopal Gowda and Justice C Nagappan rebuked the Government in strong words for its failure to act on its directive to present its case.
Irked by the request made by State Government’s lawyer Siba Shankar Mishra for an additional two weeks’ time to submit its deposition, the court pointed out that the State police had arrested Sangram even though the Supreme Court itself had granted him bail. “Why this act should be not considered contempt of courtIJ Does the police believe in rule of law or does it consider itself too smart,” asked the Bench to the lawyer.
The Bench further warned that it could summon the Police DG himself, if required. lawyer Mishra promised to the court to get the arrest report from the police SP and submit it in the court within two weeks. Badagada police inspector BK Routray and Sorada police inspector Santosh Kumar Jena had appeared in the court with supporting documents.
While Sangram’s lawyer Suresh Chandra Tripathy wanted to submit a rejoinder following the submission of report by the state government, the bench opined that there would be no need. Notably, Sangram was first arrested by the Sorada police on December 5, 2012 for his alleged involvement in Maoist activities.