Actor Piyush Tripathy skipped a personal appearance in the Bhubaneswar Civil Court on January 12, while his lawyer defended him in the ongoing stage-ban case.
The case originated from a petition filed by Surya Mandir Jatra troupe producer Pramod Swain. He accused Piyush of breaching a prior contract and joining the Singhbahini Jatra troupe led by Sanjib Padhi. The allegations triggered a temporary ban on Piyush from performing on the jatra stage. The restriction remains until the court issues further directions.
Advocate Vibhu Tripathy represented Piyush during the hearing. Samir Tripathy filed the injunction petition on behalf of the complainant. The court listened to arguments from both sides and will issue an order soon. Possible decisions include continuing the ban, lifting it, modifying it, or scheduling another hearing for additional arguments.
The court has not released a fresh order yet. If judges require Piyush’s personal presence in future hearings, they will issue specific instructions.
This dispute mirrors a similar controversy in 2025 when Piyush’s troupe change sparked legal challenges. Contract breaches and troupe-switching by actors have repeatedly created disputes in the Odia jatra industry.
Fans continue to hope for Piyush’s return to the stage. The next hearing will determine whether the actor resumes performances or remains barred from jatra shows.
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