SC/ST Act | No Bar On Granting Pre-Arrest Bail If Substantive Offence Not Found Committed: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has recently clarified that the bar under Section 18 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 will not apply if it is prima facie found that the substantive offence punishable with 10 years or more is not committed. Justice Gopinath P. passed this significant ruling while deciding two criminal appeals related to anticipatory bail applications. Background of the Criminal Appeals The…