Friday, December 9 2005 10:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhubaneswar: Ten persons, acquitted by the Orissa High Court after being convicted by a lower court in the Graham Staines murder case, yesterday (Dec 8,2005) appeared before a local court, as their appearance was required before it in view of a bailable warrant, and were then enlarged on bail.

The local court's order followed cross-appeals earlier filed before the Supreme Court by Dara Singh, the prime accused in the case, and the prosecuting investigating agency CBI. Though Dara's death sentence in the case by the trial court had earlier been set aside by the High Court, it had upheld the life imprisonment awarded to him.

Accordingly, the lower court had issued bailable warrants against the ten acquitted persons which required their appearance before it. The High Court had acquitted 11 persons while setting aside Dara's death sentence.

Dara and another convict in the case Mahendra Hembram were in the Baripada jail, while Rajat Kumar Das alias Dipu, was still lodged in jail in connection with another case.

Those who appeared before the court yesterday were Dayanidhi Patra, Renta Hembram, Mahadeb Mahanta, Kartik Lohar, Suratha Nayak, Harish Mahanta, Thuram Ho, Rabi Soren, Umakanta Bhoi and Ojen Hansda.