Dhamnagar BJD MlA Muktikanta Mandal was granted bail by the Bhardak Additional District Judge (ADJ) following his surrender in the court in connection with the sensational Niranjan Jena murder case 2002.
The court granted the bail to Mandal for Rs 25,000 with two sureties. The Orissa High Court while rejecting Mandal’s anticipatory bail plea on October 20 had directed him to surrender before a subordinate court. The High Court had further directed the lower court for trial of Mandal along with other accused in the murder case. Earlier on October 8, the Bhadrak Additional District and Sessions Judge Court had summoned the MlA and his aide Nepal Barik to appear before it on October 21. The court had asked the duo to put their sides in connection with the murder case.
Notably, Niranjan Jena of Sugo village under the Basudevpur police station was allegedly kidnapped and beaten to death by 20 to 25 men, including Muktikanta Mandal, the then block chairman of Basudevpur, and Nepal Barik, on November 3, 2002. Deceased Niranjan’s uncle Dusashan Jena had lodged a complaint with the police alleging involvement of Mandal and five others in the murder. However, the police in their chargesheet excluded the name of Mandal and another. Challenging it, Dusashan had moved the High Court. HC on September 19 directed the Bhadrak Sessions Court to make Mandal an accused in the murder case and complete the trial within six months. Following the HC’s direction, Mandal had moved for anticipatory bail.