Anticipatory bail petitions under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 are not maintainable unless prima facie evidence exists, as per Sections 18 and 18A, limiting High Court's jurisdiction.

ORDER :

1. This Criminal Petition under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), has been filed by the petitioner/A32 seeking anticipatory bail in Crime No.137 of 2023 of Gannavaram Urban Police Station, Krishna District, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 143, 147, 148, 435, 506 read with 149 I.P.C and Section 3(1)(r)(s) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Thereafter, the police, on the strength of the material collected, altered the provision of law into Sections 436, 450, 452 and 120B of I.P.C and Sections 3(2)(v) and 3(2)(va) of Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

2. Sri N. Harinadh, learned Counsel for petitioner and Sri Siddarth Luthra, learned Senior Counsel and Sri M.Lakshmi Narayana, learned Public Prosecutor and Sri A.Sai Rohit, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor appearing for respondent-State submitted arguments and cited legal authorities.

3. This Criminal Petition under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), has been filed by the petitioner/A46 seeking anticipatory bail in Crime No.137 of 2023 of Gannavaram Urban Police Station, Krishna District, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 143, 147, 148, 435, 506 read with 149 I.P.C and Section 3(1)(r)(s) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Thereafter, the police, on the strength of the material collected, altered the provision of law into Sections 436, 450, 452 and 120B of I.P.C and Sections 3(2)(v) and 3(2)(va) of Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

4. Sri Mukkamalla Rama Swamy, the learned counsel for petitioner and Sri Siddarth Luthra, learned Senior Counsel and Sri M.Lakshmi Narayana, learned Public Prosecutor and Sri A.Sai Rohit, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor appearing for respondent-State submitted arguments and cited legal authorities.

5. This Criminal Petition under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), has been filed by the petitioners/A35 and A51 seeking anticipatory bail in Crime No.137 of 2023 of Gannavaram Urban Police Station, Krishna District, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 143, 147, 148, 435, 506 read with 149 I.P.C and Section 3(1)(r)(s) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Thereafter, the police, on the strength of the material collected, altered the provision of law into Sections 436, 450, 452 and 120B of I.P.C and Sections 3(2)(v) and 3(2)(va) of Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

6. Sri Kiran Tirumalasetti, learned Counsel for the petitioners and Sri Siddarth Luthra, learned Senior Counsel and Sri M.Lakshmi Narayana, learned Public Prosecutor and Sri A.Sai Rohit, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor appearing for respondent-State submitted arguments and cited legal authorities.

7. This Criminal Petition under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), has been filed by the petitioner/A43 seeking anticipatory bail in Crime No.137 of 2023 of Gannavaram Urban Police Station, Krishna District, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 143, 147, 148, 435, 506 read with 149 I.P.C and Section 3(1)(r)(s) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Thereafter, the police, on the strength of the material collected, altered the provision of law into Sections 436, 450, 452 and 120B of I.P.C and Sections 3(2)(v) and 3(2)(va) of Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

8. Sri B.V. Anjaneyulu, learned Counsel for the petitioner and Sri Siddarth Luthra, learned Senior Counsel and Sri M.Lakshmi Narayana, learned Public Prosecutor and Sri A.Sai Rohit, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor appearing for respondent-State submitted arguments and cited