The statutory bar under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against granting anticipatory bail is not absolute. Courts have the discretion to grant such relief if the complaint fails to establish a prima facie case at the threshold stage without requiring a mini-trial.

THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 14(A)2) OF SC/ST (POA) ACT READ WITH SECTION 482 OF BNSS, PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 06.03.2026 PASSED IN CRL.MISC.NO.1500/2026 BY THE LXX ADDL. CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE AND SPECIAL JUDGGE (CCH-71) AT BENGALURU AND TO ENLARGE THE APPELLANTS ON ANTICIPATORY BAIL IN CR.NO.37/2026 REGISTERED BY SUBRAMANYAPURA POLICE STATION FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s) OF SC/ST (POA) ACT AND SECTION 351(2), 352 AND 115(2) OF BNS.

THIS APPEAL COMING ON FOR ADMISSION THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.G.S. KAMAL

ORAL JUDGMENT

This appeal is filed by the accused in Crime No.37/2026 registered before the Subramanyapura Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015 (‘SC & ST (POA) Act’ for short) and under Sections 351(2), 352 and 115(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 being aggrieved by the order dated 06.03.2026 passed in Crl.Misc.No.1500/2026 on the file of the LXX Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge and Special Judge, Bengaluru, by which the petition filed by the appellants herein under Section 482 of BNSS has been rejected.

2. A complaint dated 06.02.2026 came to be filed by one Gopal alleging commission of aforesaid offences by the appellants herein, pursuant to which case in Crime No.37/2026 is registered. The contents of the complaint as found in the First Information Report reads as under:

“ΐėỳгу:06/02/2026

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Fª ÉÄïï L.r. gopalam586@gmail.com, ªÉƨ ÉÊ¯ï £ÀA§gï: 9448182586.

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