Overview
- Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan set aside the Madurai Bench’s April 2025 order that re-granted bail in the earlier attempt-to-murder case.
- The Court directed the accused to surrender before the jurisdictional trial court within two weeks of the December 19 judgment.
- The ruling faulted the High Court for ignoring prior cancellation of bail after the December 18, 2022 killing of a key eyewitness while on bail, as well as the gravity of offences and criminal antecedents.
- The Court clarified that Section 15A(5) of the SC/ST Act guarantees victims an opportunity to be heard in bail proceedings, not a right to a favourable outcome, noting the survivor’s objections were recorded.
- The High Court’s direction for a joint trial of the attempt-to-murder and subsequent murder cases was criticized for lacking statutory analysis, with the apex court noting the offences were not part of the same transaction.