In an unusual development that has raised concerns over coordination between law enforcement and the judiciary, police in Odisha’s Keonjhar district was forced to release an accused person on conditional bail after failing to present him before the court for two consecutive days due to repeated hearing delays.

The incident occurred when Telkoi Police arrested Chandramani Nayak in connection with an old case based on a court-issued warrant. Following the arrest, police intended to produce Nayak before the judicial authorities to complete the legal process.

However, police personnel faced an unexpected hurdle when the judicial proceedings could not take place on the first day. Despite waiting throughout the day, the Judicial Magistrate was unable to allocate time for the hearing, leaving the police frustrated after hours spent at the court premises.

Hoping for a resolution, the police attempted once again to present the accused the following day. Yet, the situation remained unchanged, and the hearing could still not proceed. Repeated delays created legal complications, as procedural rules require that an accused be produced before a court within a specified timeframe to remain in custody lawfully.

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With limited options and facing legal constraints, the police were ultimately compelled to release Chandramani Nayak on conditional bail.

The incident has highlighted apparent gaps in coordination between law enforcement and judicial authorities. Observers noted that while procedural delays caused inconvenience to the police, they inadvertently benefited an accused facing serious charges. Nayak’s lawyer has expressed dissatisfaction over the handling of the case and stated that the matter would be raised with the concerned departmental authorities.