In Brief
A woman belonging to a Scheduled Caste filed a complaint alleging that respondents entered her home, assaulted her, and abused her using caste-based slurs, threatening her with dire consequences. The trial court and High Court found a prima facie case against the respondents, but the High Court granted anticipatory bail. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, holding that Section 18 of the SC/ST Act absolutely bars anticipatory bail in atrocity cases unless the court finds no offence is prima facie made out. Since the complaint disclosed a clear case of atrocity, the High Court erred in granting anticipatory bail. The order was set aside, and the respondents were granted four weeks to surrender.
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