In State of A.P. v. Bimal Krishna Kundu and Anr. (supra) it was held that "where there is prima facie material showing commission of crime as a result of well orchestrated conspiracy, equipping the accused with a pre-arrest bail order, though subject to some conditions, before they were interrogated by the police would greatly harm the investigation and would impede the prospects of unveiling all the ramifications involved in the conspiracy. Public interest also would suffer as a consequence.". In the said case it was also held that discretion was not properly exercised by the High Court and the order granting anticipatory bail was quashed.
In view of this, the decision in the case of Saluddin Abulsamad Shaikh Vs. State of Maharashtra (supra) and State of Andhra Pradesh Vs. Bimal Krishna Kundu & another (supra) would be applicable, and therefore, the present applications for the relief of release before arrest under Section 438 of the Code would not be maintainable since after the filing of the charge-sheet, the Court, for the grant of relief under Section 439 of the Code would inter- vene as the provisions of Section 438 are not meant/intended to bye pass the regular Court under Section 439 of the Code.
The Hon'ble Supreme Court in State of A.P. vs.
Bimal Krishna Kundu & Anr. and in Sudhir vs. State of
Maharashtra & Anr. has declined to extend the benefit of pre
arrest bail to the accused-persons after taking into consideration
the allegations of corruption and misappropriation of public funds.
I am of the opinion that no straightjacket formula can be laid for
grant or refusal of anticipatory bail and the application for
anticipatory bail is to be decided on the basis of available facts in
each case.
"14. It is trite law that the power to grant a pre-arrest bail
under Section 482 of the BNSS is extraordinary in nature and
is to be exercised sparingly. Thus, pre-arrest bail cannot be
granted in a routine manner. The Hon'ble Apex Court, in the
case of State of A.P. v. Bimal Krishna Kundu, (1997) 8 SCC
104, held as under:
In State of A.P. v. Bimal Krishna Kundu and another3,
which relates to offences punishable under Sections 420, 468
and 406 IPC arisen out of leakage of question paper in respect of
examination conducted by Public Service Commission, this
Court has made following observations: -
7. Further, learned Senior counsel has relied upon another
decision of Hon‟ble Apex Court reported in THE STATE OF
ANDHRA PRADESH Vs. BIMAL KRISHNA KUNDU & ANR.2,
wherein it was held that "in Section 438 of the Code on the ground
that the offences involved are not punishable with death or
imprisonment for life."