Repeated anticipatory bail pleas without changed circumstances can be treated as forum shopping and abuse of process.

Repeated anticipatory bail filings without any material change in circumstances were treated as forum shopping and an abuse of process. The text states that earlier applications had already been dismissed on merits or withdrawn in adverse circumstances, and the fresh petition did not disclose any new factual basis for reconsideration. It further records that the materials and conduct justified custodial interrogation and did not warrant exercise of discretion in favour of the petitioners. On that basis, anticipatory bail was refused and costs were imposed.

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Issues: Whether the petitioners were entitled to anticipatory bail in view of repeated earlier applications, and whether the fresh application disclosed any change in circumstances justifying reconsideration.

Analysis: The petitioners had made multiple earlier attempts for anticipatory bail before the Sessions Court and the High Court, many of which were dismissed on merits or withdrawn in circumstances treated as adverse to them. The present application was filed without any material change in circumstances. The Court treated the repeated filings as forum shopping and an abuse of process. It also held that the materials and conduct justified custodial interrogation and that the case was not fit for exercise of discretion in favour of the petitioners.

Conclusion: Anticipatory bail was refused, and the petition was dismissed with costs imposed on the petitioners.

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