(Mv.I.43.1) [105] Now at that time a certain man, having committed a crime, ran away and went forth among the monks. (A warrant) had been written at the king’s inner palace that, “Wherever he is seen, he should be killed right there.”
People, on seeing him, said, “That’s the criminal for whom (a warrant) has been written. Lets kill him.”
Some said, “Don’t say that, masters. It has been allowed by King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha that for one gone forth among the Sakyan-son contemplatives, nobody can do anything to him, (as he thinks,) ‘The Dhamma is well-expounded. May they live the holy life for the right ending of stress.’”
People criticized and complained and spread it about,
“These Sakyan-son contemplatives are unrestrained by fear[2] — nobody can do anything to them.
“How can they give the Going-forth to a criminal for whom (a warrant) has been written?”
They reported the matter to the Blessed One.
“Monks, a criminal for whom a (a warrant) has been written should not be given the Going-forth. Whoever should give it: an offense of wrong doing.”