Supreme Court Cancels Anticipatory Bail in SC/ST Case, Upholds FIR Based on Police Statement

The Supreme Court cancelled the anticipatory bail granted to individuals accused of hurling caste-based abuses, ruling that an FIR's authenticity cannot be doubted simply because it originated from a police statement.

The Bench set aside a Punjab & Haryana High Court order that had questioned the genuineness of the case because no victim had filed the complaint.

The Court held that the source of information is immaterial if it discloses a cognizable offence, especially when registered by an officer witnessing the incident.

Finding clear allegations of firearm use and casteist slurs, the Bench directed the accused to surrender within 15 days.

[Kuldeep Singh & Anr. v. State of Punjab & Anr.]