New Delhi, Feb 27 (PTI) In a significant verdict, the Supreme Court on Thursday held that the provision of anticipatory bail is applicable to the Goods and Services Act and customs law and persons can move courts for pre-arrest bail even if an FIR is not in place.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices MM Sundresh and Bela M Trivedi had reserved the verdict on May 16, last year on a batch of pleas challenging the penal provisions in the Customs Act, the GST Act as being non compatible with the Code of Criminal Procedure CrPC and the Constitution.

Pronouncing the verdict, the CJI said the provisions of CrPC and the subsequent law, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), on issues like anticipatory bail would be applicable to persons under the Customs and the GST Acts.

It held that persons facing possible arrest under the GST and Customs Acts are entitled to seek anticipatory bail, even before an FIR is registered.

The detailed judgement is awaited.

The lead petition was filed by one Radhika Agarwal in 2018. PTI SJK SJK DV DV

Anticipatory bail applies under GST and Customs law, allowing pre-arrest relief even without an FIR. Anticipatory bail is available to persons facing potential arrest under the Goods and Services Tax and Customs legislation; the procedural regime for pre-arrest protection in the CrPC and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita applies to GST and Customs offences, permitting courts to entertain anticipatory bail applications even before an FIR is registered.