JUDGMENT

Dated this the 26^th day of February, 2026 This criminal appeal has been filed 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 12.02.2026 in B.A. No.10/2026 on the files of the Special Court for SC/ST (POA) Act cases, Thrissur, whereby the learned Special Judge dismissed the anticipatory bail plea at the instance of the appellant, who is the 1^st accused in Crime No.98/2026 of Anthikkad Police Station.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the appellant and the learned Public Prosecutor, in detail. Also heard the defacto complainant, who appeared in person. Perused the verdict under challenge and the relevant materials available.

3. Parties in this appeal shall be referred as ‘accused’ and ‘defacto complainant’, hereafter.

4. The prosecution case is that, at about 6.00 p.m.

on 06.01.2026, the accused persons, who belong to community other than Schedule Caste or Scheduled Tribe, in furtherance of their common intention, in pursuance of previous enmity, wrongfully restrained the defacto complainant, who belongs to Hindu - Vettuv