Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said the Supreme Court has not put any stay on the state government's decision of facilitating bail for jailed Maoists in exchange of abducted Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Jhina Hikaka.

Speaking to media persons at Bhubaneswar after returning from New Delhi, he also indicated that the state government will not change its decision to withdraw cases and facilitate release of certain Maoists for freeing the BJD MLA. On the issue, Odisha Chief Secretary, Bijay Kumar Patnaik, said the state government is yet to receive the order from the supreme Court and it will respond after receiving the order.

Meanwhile ,the jailed Maoist, Ghasi today appealed his cadres to release the tribal BJD MLA, Jhina Hikaka without further delay on humanitarian grounds . Earlier the state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik appealed Maoists several times to release the MLA unharmed. The State government has already announced to withdraw prosecution against 13 Prisoners including five Maoists to ensure release of the MLA.

Odisha Home Secretary, Upendra Nath Behera said that seven members of Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh had applied for bail and five of them have been granted bail .