SANJEET KUMAR vs STATE OF BIHAR

The Supreme Court held that the Patna High Court erred in allowing a petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, which challenged the rejection of a discharge application under Section 245 of the Code. The Court emphasized that the High Court's decision lacked proper reasoning and improperly considered the merits of the defense, which is beyond the scope of Section 482. The Supreme Court reiterated that inherent powers under Section 482 can only be exercised to prevent abuse of process or to secure the ends of justice, and the High Court's abrupt conclusion was not justified.