The Supreme Court has said that no accused can be allowed to rot in jail without fair and quick hearing. The court was hearing in a case related to UAPA on Wednesday (August 20, 2025), during which the court said this.
A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice KV Vishwanathan directed the High Court to speed up the hearing and complete the hearing within two years as there are more than 100 witnesses in the case from which the prosecution has to cross -examining.
The Supreme Court was hearing two petitions in which the decision of the Karnataka High Court has been challenged. In April 2022, the Karnataka High Court granted bail to an accused, but refused to give relief to another co-accused. Against this decision, the Center filed a petition and opposed the granting bail, while the second petition was filed by the co-accused, which the court refused to give relief.
In January 2020, an FIR was lodged against 17 people in Bengaluru, including provisions of the illegal activities (prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA). The case was later handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and a charge sheet was filed in July 2020.
The bench said that the fact is that despite the passage of five and a half years, the trial has not started. The accused cannot be allowed to rot in jail without fair and quick hearing. The court said that the reasons given to bail and reject both the accused were completely justified and correct.
The bench refused to intervene in the High Court order to bail the accused. At the same time, while hearing the bail plea of co-accused, the Supreme Court said that the High Court found that it was involved with the banned terrorist organizations.
The court said that the reasons given by the High Court are based on the material collected during the investigation and the facts shown in the charge sheet. Dismissing the appeals, the Supreme Court directed the prosecution to submit evidence and ensure full cooperation in completing the hearing within the stipulated time and also asked the accused to cooperate.
The Supreme Court said that if it is found that the accused is trying to delay the trial, the lower court or prosecution agency has the freedom to apply to cancel the bail of the accused.