High Court rejects advance bail plea of Dhamnagar MLA

Just a day before he was to appear before a Bhadrak lower court in connection with a murder case, the Orissa High Court today rejected the anticipatory bail application of Dhamnagar BJD MLA Muktikant Mandal.
Justice S K Mishra also directed the ruling party legislator to move a regular bail application in the lower court, which was asked to consider the plea in parity with other accused in the case.
The Bhadrak ADJ's court has issued summonses to Mandal and one of his alleged accomplices to appear before it tomorrow in connection with the 14-year-old murder case of Niranjan Jena, an associate of the BJD leader.

Jena was lynched on November 3, 2002 by a mob of around 20 to 25 alleged supporters of Mandal, who was then officiating as the chairman of local Basudevpur block.
Although the FIR had named Mandal and others, the his name was later dropped from the charge sheet. The session's court, however, issued summons to the MLA after examining two relatives of the deceased.