The District Judge and Sessions Court of Kendrapada on Tuesday granted bail to Sarat Patra, a close aide of self proclaimed godman Sarathi Baba. Judge Biranchi Kumar Rath granted him bail on a bond of Rs15, 000 with one surety.
Notably, Patra was summoned by the Crime Branch sleuths for interrogation on August 28 evening. Following hours of interrogation, Patra had been arrested and produced in the SDJM Court.
Patra faced the charge of forcing a victim woman to keep physical relationship with Sarathi. Even, the victim woman, on August 22 last had recorded her statement before Shila Priyadarshini Panda, the JMFC of Kendrapada, after the SDJM court directed to record her statement at the court.
The Crime Branch, on August 29 evening produced Patra before the SDJM Court and prayed the court to allow it for taking Patra on judicial remand for three days for further interrogation. The SDJM allowed the Crime Branch to take Patra on remand for three days, while rejecting his bail petition.
After the completion of the remand period, the Crime Branch personnel produced Patra before the SDJM Court on September 1. The court later sent him to jail custody.
According to Rabindra Narayan Mohanty , the lawyer of Patra, as per the prima facie materials, charges against Patra could not be not established. So he prayed before the court to allow him bail which was granted.
Notably, Patra , a Mathematics teacher at Mahanga-based Birbhadreswar
High School, was on August 13 last suspended for dereliction of duty.