Odisha HC grants bail to thief with 'sapling plants' condition

An Orissa HC judge has granted bail to a man facing prosecution for alleged theft on the condition that he plant 200 saplings of local varieties such as mango, neem, and tamarind around his village in Jharsuguda district and maintain them for two years, reports Lalmohan Patnaik.
Manas Ati had been in judicial custody since December 25 last year for allegedly stealing six electric poles in villages under Kolabira police station area. Hearing his bail plea filed on January 15, Justice S K Panigrahi on Thursday specified that the trees should be planted on govt, community, or private land if it is in Ati's or his family members' possession. Justice Panigrahi directed the district nursery/DFO to "extend a helping hand by supplying the saplings to him," and the revenue authority was tasked with assisting him in identifying locations for planting the saplings. "If the land is not available, the petitioner will approach the revenue authority to identify land for the plantation," the order said.