Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Wednesday stayed any coercive action against BJD MLA Pratap Jena in the 2021 Mahanga double murder case.
The High Court while putting a stay on any coercive action against the BJD MLA has sought records relating to the case from the Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Salipur. The High Court has fixed December 19 as the next date of hearing in the matter.
Jena had earlier skipped appearance in the Salipur JMFC court on October 31 citing health grounds.
In a petition to the court through his counsel, Jena said doctors had advised him rest for a month.
Taking cognisance of the offences against Jena in the Mahanga double murder case, the JMFC Court, Salipur in its September 25 order, ordered ordered a prima facie case punishable under Sections 302, 506, 120 B of the Indian Penal Code to be made against him.
The JMFC Court had asked Jena to appear before it on October 31 and a summons to this effect was issued to him.
However, the BJD leader skipped the hearing and urged the court to exempt him from personal appearance as per Section 205 of IPC citing illness.
Based on Jena’s petition in the high court challenging the cognisance order by the JMFC court, the HC stayed any coercive action for the time being.
