Conditional bail granted in a group-clash case where co-accused in both cases had been released.

The appeal challenged the Special Court’s refusal to grant bail in Crime No. 589 of 2026, registered after a clash between two groups during a Vinayakar Chathurthi procession in Komanapatti on 18 September 2026.

The appellants—Accused Nos. 3, 7, 9 and 10—faced charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

A counter-case, Crime No. 590 of 2026, was registered against members of the other group. The appellants relied on the fact that accused in the counter-case had obtained bail or anticipatory bail, and that the other accused in the present case had also obtained bail.

The victims opposed bail, alleging an attack with weapons and caste-based abuse, and expressing concern about further threats.

The appeal was brought under Section 14A(2) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, which provides for an appeal against specified orders of the Special Court, including an order refusing bail.

The Court considered whether bail was appropriate in the circumstances and imposed conditions restricting the appellants’ residence, movement, reporting obligations, and contact with the victims. The judgment cited no precedent and did not set out a more detailed statutory test for bail.

The Court considered that all accused in the counter-case had obtained bail or anticipatory bail, and that the other accused in the present case had obtained bail from the trial Court.

It also noted that the injured persons had been discharged from hospital and were present before the Court. Against the victims’ stated concern about threats, the Court concluded that bail could be granted subject to stringent safeguards, including requiring the appellants to reside in Trichy, report daily to the Malaikottai Police Station, and refrain from entering the village or contacting the victims or complainant.

Those conditions included execution of bonds with two sureties each, submission of identity and address documents, filing undertakings, residence and daily reporting in Trichy, and prohibitions on entering the village or contacting or influencing the victims. The police may seek cancellation of bail if the appellants violate the conditions.