Prolonged pre-trial incarceration justified bail pending trial, subject to travel restrictions, passport surrender, and cancellation for delay.

Prolonged pre-trial incarceration was treated as a sufficient ground for bail, with the Court noting that the appellant had spent nearly two years and one month in custody. Bail was granted pending trial, subject to conditions to be fixed by the trial court, including disclosure of a contact number, surrender of passport, and a restriction on travel outside India without prior permission. Liberty was reserved to cancel bail if the trial was deliberately delayed, and the observations were confined to bail alone.

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Issues: Whether the appellant was entitled to bail during pendency of trial on account of prolonged incarceration.

Analysis: The appellant had undergone nearly two years and one month of incarceration. On that basis, bail was granted pending trial, with conditions to be fixed by the trial court. The order also required disclosure of a contact number, surrender of passport, and restriction on travel outside India without prior permission. Liberty was reserved to cancel bail if the appellant deliberately delayed the trial. The observations were expressly confined to the question of bail and were not to be treated as an opinion on the merits.

Conclusion: The appellant was granted bail pending trial, and the appeal was allowed in those terms.

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