SC dismisses plea for anticipatory bail by BJP leader

The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea for anticipatory bail by a BJP leader from Dakshina Kannada district in a case pertaining to group clash and stabbing. It noted that there are over a dozen other cases pending against him.

A bench of Justices Kurian Joseph and R Banumathi asked petitioner, 28-year-old Mithun, to surrender and seek regular bail from the district court in Mangaluru.

Advocates Bina Mahadevan and Krishna Kumar Singh, representing the petitioner, contended that he has been falsely implicated in the case due to political rivalry. They said that the petitioner, a social activist and political leader, is ready to abide by any strict condition that the court imposes in granting him anticipatory bail.

The counsel challenged the Karnataka High Court's order of August 14, rejecting his plea for anticipatory bail. They contended that the HC overlooked the fact that the petitioner was ready to cooperate with the investigation and there was no circumstance to show a possibility that he will abscond.

The bench, however, said, “We do not find any ground to interfere with the order (of high court). The special leave petition is, accordingly, dismissed.”

“If the petitioner is arrested, he may apply for regular bail before the trial court, in which case his application for regular bail shall be considered expeditiously,” the bench said.

An FIR was lodged on May 26 with the Bantwal Town police station by Abdul Hasir, contending that Mithun, along with others, assaulted him and his companions. The complainant had sustained stab injuries on his back.