Bhubaneswar: Orissa High Court on Wednesday granted conditional bail to Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahi, who had been arrested last year by the Crime Branch in connection with a cheating case involving Akash Pathak, son of tainted IFS officer Abhay Pathak.
Panigrahi was granted bail with the condition of furnishing bail bond of Rs 5 lakh each with two sureties and Rs 24 lakh cash security.
However, Panigrahi will not be allowed to release from Jharpada Jail here as another case filed against him is pending.
It is alleged that Panigrahi had collected money from the youths on behalf of Akash Kumar Pathak in a fraudulent manner by falsely promising jobs in a reputed company. The Crime Branch registered the case against Panigrahi under various Sections of IPC and IT Act.