The Orissa High Court has granted bail to a man accused of stealing six electric poles, under the condition that he plants 200 saplings in his village and nurtures them for the next two years.
The Kolabira police arrested Manas Ati on December 25 last year for allegedly stealing six electric poles valued at over Rs 2 lakh from a power supply company.
Justice SK Panigrahi, presiding over the case on Monday, approved Ati’s bail plea with several stipulations aimed at ensuring that he refrains from committing any further criminal activities.
The High Court ordered him to plant 200 saplings of local tree species, including mango, neem and tamarind in designated areas around his village. The trees must be planted on government, community or private land, with local police, forest and revenue officials tasked with assisting him through the plantation process, the court ruled.
To facilitate the initiative, the court directed the district nursery to supply the necessary saplings, while revenue officials would help identify suitable sites for planting.
The move is aimed at promoting environmental sustainability while ensuring that he returns to the mainstream with his reformed behaviour.
Among the mandatory bail conditions, Ati is required to report to the police every two weeks, and he is strictly prohibited from tampering with evidence.