Bhubaneswar: The High Court of Orissa on Thursday rejected the anticipatory bail application of Sudhansu Sekhar Rout, editor-in-chief of regional news channel Focus Plus, intensifying the possibility of his arrest in connection with multiple criminal cases, including allegations of defamation and an alleged blackmailing racket.

The High Court dismissed Rout's plea after noting that more than 20 criminal cases are reportedly pending against him.

Rout had approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail after the Commissionerate Police registered a case against him over allegations of spreading defamatory content against Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond and allegedly operating a blackmailing racket.

According to the police, Rout remains absconding.

The case was registered after the minister's Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Ashish Kumar Bhoi, lodged a complaint with the Capital Police. The complaint alleged that during a programme aired on July 12, Rout made baseless claims that Minister Gond had offered him a bribe to suppress reports concerning alleged errors in school textbooks.

The complainant further alleged that Rout circulated the same video on Facebook and other social media platforms with the intention of defaming the minister, misleading the public, and eroding trust in the government. Minister Gond has categorically denied the allegations.

Following the complaint, the Capital Police registered a case against Rout on July 14 under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). During the investigation, police examined witnesses, collected documentary and digital evidence, and initiated verification of the viral video and other electronic records.

On July 19, the Commissionerate Police sealed the Focus Plus office and arrested the channel's Operational Manager, Sukanta Kumar Nayak, and reporter Saroj Rath, alleging that they had assisted Rout in evading arrest. Police also seized computers, storage devices, and other digital equipment from the office for forensic examination.

Apart from the present case, Rout has previously faced several criminal cases. Police had earlier stated that he was booked in six different cases, with charge sheets filed in four of them. The High Court, however, observed during the bail hearing that more than 20 criminal cases are pending against him while rejecting his anticipatory bail plea.

Rout's legal troubles have also expanded following a separate complaint filed by a real estate company director, who alleged that defamatory content was broadcast against the firm after its promoters refused to invest Rs 2 crore in his media organisation.

With the High Court refusing anticipatory bail, the Commissionerate Police are expected to intensify efforts to trace and arrest Rout. The investigation into the case is continuing.