SLP(Crl) No. 003732 - / 2024

When anticipatory bail is refused and the accused surrenders to custody, observations made by the High Court in rejecting the anticipatory bail application must not influence the court adjudicating the subsequent regular bail application — the two proceedings are distinct and must be decided on independent merit. This principle, as analysed on casestatus.in, ensures an accused is not prejudiced in bail proceedings by adverse remarks rendered at an earlier, differently-positioned stage of the same criminal matter.