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Court can reject anticipatory bail but cannot direct accused to surrender: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court bench stated that while a court may reject anticipatory bail, it has no jurisdiction to order an accused to surrender before trial. This remark came during a hearing on a plea filed by a man accused of cheating and forgery.
Why It Matters
The ruling clarifies the limits of a court's power regarding anticipatory bail and protects an accused from being compelled to surrender before trial.
Timeline
1 Event
Supreme Court comments on anticipatory bail while hearing cheating and forgery case
April 26, 2026
A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Ujjal Bhuyan heard a plea filed by a man accused of cheating and forgery. During the hearing, the bench observed that a court may reject anticipatory bail, but it has no jurisdiction to direct the petitioner to surrender before the trial court, stating: 'If the court wants to reject the anticipatory bail, it may do so, but the court has no jurisdiction to say that the petitioner should now surrender.'