The Supreme Court has once again cautioned High Courts against directly entertaining anticipatory bail applications, stressing that litigants should ordinarily be directed to first approach the Sessions Court before invoking the High Court's concurrent jurisdiction.

The case arose from the murder of a health worker in Patna, who was shot dead in broad daylight allegedly at the behest of moneylenders demanding repayment at exorbitant rates of interest. The complainant alleged that after extorting lakhs of rupees from the deceased, the accused engaged contract killers when she was unable to meet further demands. The accused persons, apprehending arrest, directly approached the Patna High Court for anticipatory bail, which was granted.

Setting aside the High Court's order, a bench of Justi

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