MANJEET SINGH Vs. STATE OF U.P.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Leave granted.

(2.) The impugned orders reflect that the High Court did not take note of the fact that it exercises concurrent jurisdiction along with the Sessions Court insofar as grant of anticipatory bail, under Sec. 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, is concerned.

(3.) This Court's decisions in "Kanumuri Raghurama Krishnam Raju Vs. State of A.P., (2021) 13 SCC 822"and "Arvind Kejriwal vs. Directorate of Enforcement, 2024 INSC 512"made this position clear and declared that it would not be necessary for an accused to approach the Sessions Court in the first instance, as a rule, before approaching the High Court. Further, we are informed that a larger Bench of the High Court, comprising five Judges, dealt with the issue as to in what circumstances an accused could seek anticipatory bail directly from the High Court.