An accused may seek anticipatory bail following an unsuccessful petition to quash an FIR, and such bail applications must be adjudicated on merits, independent of any observations made by the High Court during quashing proceedings.

O R D E R

CHANDRESH Date: 2026.03.19 1 Reason:

1. The petitioner preferred a miscellaneous writ petition in the High Court praying for quashing of the FIR dated 25.8.2025 registered with the P.S. Qwarsi, District-Aligarh in Case Crime No.739/2025 for the offence punishable under Sections 191(2), 115(2), 352, 351(3) and 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short, the BNS, 2023”), respectively.

2. The High Court declined to entertain the petition and accordingly dismissed it.

3. In such circumstances, the petitioner is here before us with the present petition.

4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is apprehending arrest in connection with FIR referred to above and with the observations made by the High Court in the impugned order no court would grant him anticipatory bail. 5. We are of the view that we should not interfere with the impugned order passed by the High Court. If the accused is apprehending arrest, he may pray for anticipatory bail. If any such application is preferred, the Court concerned shall look into the same on its own merits without being influenced in any manner by any of the observations made by the High Court in the impugned order.

6. With the aforesaid, the Special Leave Petition stands disposed of.

7. Pending application(s), if any, stands disposed of.