Odisha Honey Trap Scandal: HC Grants Bail to Accused Archana Nag

The Orissa High Court has granted bail to honey trap scandal accused Archana Nag in an ED case registered against her.

A single judge bench of Justice G Satapathy has allowed the applicant to furnish a bail bond of Rs 2 lakh.

While being granted bail, Nag has been cautioned against committing any offences during her release and directed to deposit her passport with the court. Additionally, she is required to appear before the courts as and when necessary.

Having secured bail in the ED case, Nag, who was arrested in October last year, has now obtained bail in all cases registered against her and is expected to be released from prison. The high court had previously granted her bail in two other cases filed by the Bhubaneswar city police.

Nag, along with her associates, faced allegations of extorting substantial sums from affluent individuals by leveraging intimate videos obtained through honey trapping. Cases were filed against Nag with Nayapalli and Khandagiri police stations in Bhubaneswar in 2022, invoking sections of the Indian Penal Code and IT Act.

During the police investigation, the ED, citing offenses under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA), filed a complaint against Nag. The ED seized assets including a vehicle valued at approximately Rs 40 lakh and a three-storey building with an estimated market value of Rs 3.6 crore.