Anticipatory bail is barred under the SC/ST (POA) Act where prima facie evidence shows commission of non-bailable offenses.

JUDGMENT :

A. BADHARUDEEN, J.

1. Sri.Athul P. and Sri.Ajeesh T, who were initially got arrayed as accused Nos.6 and 8 in crime No.1111/2025 of Enath Police Station, Pathanamthitta, have filed this criminal appeal under Section 14A of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 as amended in 2018 (hereinafter referred to as 'SC/ST POA Act, 2018' for short), challenging order dated 26.11.2025 in Crl.M.P.No.9150/2025 on the files of the Special Court for SC/ST (POA) Act cases, Pathanamthitta, whereby the learned Special Judge dismissed the anticipatory bail plea at the instance of the appellants.

2. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the appellants and the learned Public Prosecutor for the 1^st respondent. Alhough notice was served upon the defacto complainant, as mandated under Section 15A(3) of the SC/ST (POA) Act, 2018, he did not turn up.

3. Here, the prosecution alleges commission of offences punishable under Sections 296(b), 115(2), 118(1), 351(2), 110, 324(4), 189(2), 191(2), 191(3) and 190 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, as well as under Sections 3(1)(s) and 3(2)(va) of the SC/ST (POA) Act, 2018 by the accused. The prosecution allegation is that at about 10.45 pm on 28.09.2025, at a place namely Kochukunnumukku, hurling obscene words on the defacto complainant and intimidating him with death, accused No.1 in this crime had attempted to beat the defacto complainant aiming at the head of the defacto complainant using an iron rod. While hurling obscene words, the 2^nd accused had stamped on the right thigh of the defacto complainant. Accused Nos. 5 and 6 along with the other accused persons had attacked the persons, namely, Manikuttan, Akhil, Sreejith and Kiran, who were accompanying the defacto complainant.In addition to that, the accused persons had destructed the autorickshaw owned by the defacto complainant.

4. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the appellants that the appellants are innocent and the occurrence took place during the Onam celebration and there was no deliberate attempt in this case to commit the offences. According to the learned counsel for the appellants, none of the offences would attract against the appellants and the appellants are ready to abide by any conditions as a pre- requisite for grant of anticipatory bail. Therefore, the Special Court went wrong in dismissing the anticipatory bail plea of the appellants. As such the learned counsel for the appellants pressed for interference in the order impugned.

5. Zealously opposing grant of anticipatory bail to the appellants and fervently supporting the order impugned, the learned Public Prosecutor produced the case records, including FIS and the wound certificate of the injured, to show the active involvement of the appellants in the crime and to substantiate that prima facie the allegations are made out. He also pointed out that as per Section 18 of the SC/ST (POA) Act, 2018, there is a bar to grant anticipatory bail in cases where offences under the SC/ST (POA) Act, 2018 are involved. According to him, in the instant case, arrest, custodial interrogation and recovery of weapon are necessary in relation to the appellants to accomplish meaningful investigation and successful prosecution. Therefore, anticipatory bail cannot be granted to the appellants and the order under challenge is liable to be confirmed.

6. On perusal of the FIS, it could be gathered that the accused persons, namely, Akhil, Athul, Ajeesh along with Aravind, Anandu, Rahul and Jomon, followed and assaulted the victims along with other identifiable persons. As pointed out by the learned Public Prosecutor, as of now, the appellants are accused Nos.5 and 6 in this case. On perusal of the copy of the wound certificate, dated 28.09.2025, issued by the General Hospital, Adoor, the same would show that the injured sustained injury to chest, abdomen and also lacerated wound of 3 x 1 x 1 cm on the right parietal aspect of the scalp. He was advised t