The Supreme Court, emphasizing the right to a speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution, has released an accused in a murder case who was held for nearly four years without any witness examination. The accused, Sahil Manoj Machare, had filed a special leave petition challenging a Bombay High Court decision denying him bail in a Kolhapur district murder case in Maharashtra.
Despite charges being framed in 2024, the trial had not progressed, leading the apex court to note the prolonged detention of the accused. The Court highlighted that the accused’s fundamental rights were violated due to the lack of progress in the trial, emphasizing the importance of a speedy trial even in serious offenses like murder.
The Supreme Court, led by Justice J.B. Pardiwala, ordered the immediate release of the accused on bail, considering the extended period of incarceration without trial progress. The case, involving Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC, stemmed from an incident during a family gathering in village Tardal, where the victim was fatally attacked with a sharp weapon.
Observing that the accused had spent nearly four years in jail without trial advancement, the Court directed his release on bail, subject to conditions set by the trial court. The accused’s plea for bail was initially rejected by the Bombay High Court in March 2026, citing the seriousness of the offense, prima facie evidence, and the impact on justice administration.
