Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court has granted conditional bail to Dillip Kumar Ghosh, the former Principal of Fakir Mohan (FM) Autonomous College at Balasore, in a case pertaining to the self-immolation of a girl student over alleged sexual harassment last year.

Ghosh was released from Balasore District Jail after nearly 10 months of his arrest in the case. Former Assistant Professor Sameer Sahu, the prime accused in the case, is still in the jail.

The Crime Branch of the Odisha Police has filed preliminary chargesheet in the case after recording the statements of at least 129 witnesses, reports said.

However, the Crime Branch is yet to file the final chargesheet in the case.

The girl student, pursuing BEd course, had set herself on fire in front of the Principal’s chamber in July, 2025. 

The girl took the extreme step after the college authorities did not take prompt steps on her complaint regarding the alleged sexual harassment.

The victim sustained 90 per cent burn injuries and she died while undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.