'Color Of Uniform Doesn't Change With Govt Change': Supreme Court Criticizes Odisha's Soft Stance On BJP MLA Accused Of Slapping Woman Officer

Calling out BJP-led Odisha government's mellowed stance on anticipatory bail plea of a BJP MLA accused of slapping a woman police officer during a protest in 2023, the Supreme Court today remarked that the color of an officer's uniform does not change with change in government.

A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti heard the matter and dismissed Mishra's anticipatory bail plea, considering prejudice likely to be caused to the investigation.

During the hearing, Advocate Samapika Biswal, appearing for State of Odisha, submitted that the Court may only ask Mishra to cooperate with the investigation. Hearing the same, the bench gathered that a concession was being given to him and deprecated the stance.

It took the counsel through the counter-affidavit filed earlier on behalf of the State, when the Biju Janata Dal formed government in Odisha, opposing the grant of anticipatory bail and detailing Mishra's antecedents. For context, the Odisha government went an overhaul, when the BJP defeated the Biju Janata Dal in the 2024 State Legislative Assembly elections and formed government in Odisha.

Visibly disappointed by the state counsel's submission, Justice Bhatti posed to Biswal, "can we treat it as a concession given by you for representing State of Odisha?"

Justice Roy, on his part, strongly remarked, "the color of the uniform of the police officer does not change with the change of government".

Case Title: JAYANARAYAN MISHRA v. THE STATE OF ODISHA, SLP(Crl) No. 1145/2024