Supreme Court: Balmukund Singh Gautam's Bail Revoked Due to Long Evasion

In a recent development, the Supreme Court has changed a High Court decision that allowed Balmukund Singh Gautam to avoid arrest before trial. Here's a breakdown of what happened.

Background of the Case

On June 2, 2017, a political rivalry in Madhya Pradesh turned violent. Three police reports were filed about the incident. The most serious one, Report No. 226/2017, involved accusations of attempted murder and gathering illegally against Balmukund Singh Gautam and others. The person who reported it claimed they were attacked with stones, sticks, swords, and gunfire.

The High Court's Decision

On January 19, 2024, the High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur allowed Balmukund Singh Gautam to avoid arrest before trial, even though he had been hiding since 2017. The court ordered him to turn himself in and apply for regular bail, which was to be granted on the same day.

"The trial Court shall grant bail to the Accused on the same day after imposing adequate conditions in accordance with law."

Supreme Court Steps In

The Supreme Court, led by Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Vijay Bishnoi, reviewed the case on February 13, 2026. They found the High Court's decision problematic, especially since Balmukund Singh Gautam had been hiding for nearly six years.

Key Points from the Supreme Court

1. Hiding Accused: Balmukund Singh Gautam had been hiding since the incident, making him generally not eligible to avoid arrest before trial.

2. Serious Allegations: The charges included murder and attempted murder, with evidence suggesting that Balmukund Singh Gautam threatened a witness, Shailendra alias Pintu.

3. Criminal History: Balmukund Singh Gautam had multiple criminal cases against him, which the court could not ignore.

4. High Court's Mistake: The Supreme Court noted that the High Court wrongly based its decision on the acquittal of co-accused to allow bail to Balmukund Singh Gautam.

"Granting the relief of anticipatory bail to an absconding accused person sets a bad precedent."

Summary of the Verdict

The Supreme Court canceled the High Court's decision and ordered Balmukund Singh Gautam to turn himself in within four weeks. The court stressed that their observations were specific to this case and should not affect future legal actions.