Orissa HC grants bail to thief, orders to plant 200 saplings in village

Cuttack: A man named Manas Ati, who had stolen electric poles in Odisha, got bail from the court. The Orissa High Court granted him bail but with a condition that he will have to plant 200 seedlings in his village, and after that he has to nurture these plants, such as watering, giving fertilizer, pruning, and trimming for the next two years, unless they become strong.

The Kolabira police nabbed this man on Christmas Day (December 25) last year for allegedly stealing six electric poles from a power supply company. Their total worth was estimated above Rs 2 lakh. He was sent to jail.

However, Justice SK Panigrahi, presiding over the case on Monday, supported his bail plea with numerous conditions. He said that Ati has ensured that he would not commit or be involved in any criminal activities in the future.

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The High Court did not allow him to go and roam but ordered this man to be involved in horticultural activities. Therefore, he has to plant 200 seedlings of local tree species, such as mango, neem, and tamarind, in selected regions of his village. The trees need to be planted on government, community, or private land. Local police, forest, and revenue officials were asked to help him in his plantation activity, the court ruled.

The court has directed the district nursery to provide the essential saplings to him, while revenue officials’ duty is to help him in identifying suitable places for the plantation. The move is a step to promote our environment along with the hope that he will spend his entire life with good behavior and as a law-abiding citizen.