SC grants elderly accused protection from arrest; asks Patna HC to dispose of his six-month-old anticipatory bail plea in four weeks

THE Supreme Court Wednesday protected a 72-year old man, whose anticipatory bail petition has not been taken up for hearing for the last six months, from any coercive action for a month. The man has been accused of cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery and criminal conspiracy.

Petitioner Pancham Singh complained to the top court that his anticipatory bail petition filed on March 26 this year was not being taken up for hearing since it was listed at serial number 3076 and thus it would take a very long time for his application to be heard by the Patna High Court. He contended that he was 72 years old and suffering from various ailments. He apprehended his arrest by the police even before his anticipatory bail was heard by the high court.

A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao, BR Gavai and BV Nagarathna declined to entertain his Article 32 petition but granted him protection from arrest for a month. The bench also asked the high court to dispose of his anticipatory bail application within four weeks from today.