The Supreme Court has granted bail to an accused in an attempt-to-murder case who has been in custody for nearly five years. The court noted the slow progress of the trial, with only five witnesses examined by the prosecution so far. The petitioner, Tota Pahelwan alias Sunil Yadav, had filed a Special Leave Petition against an Allahabad High Court order denying him regular bail.
The apex court acknowledged that the petitioner has been in judicial custody as an undertrial prisoner for almost five years. It considered the prosecution’s intention to examine a total of 22 witnesses, indicating a prolonged trial process. Despite the serious nature of the allegations, the court decided to exercise discretion in favor of the accused.
While granting bail, the Supreme Court directed the release of the petitioner on bail with specified terms and conditions. However, it emphasized the need for the trial to proceed without delay. The case relates to an FIR registered in 2021 at Sikandrabad Police Station in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district for offenses under Sections 323 and 307 of the IPC.
