Parity in bail and prolonged custody justified release where the accused was not linked to the main firing incident.

Bail was granted on parity where the petitioner's alleged role did not include the main firing incident and the co-accused with substantially similar circumstances had already been released on bail. The Court also treated the petitioner's long incarceration of about 4.5 years as a relevant factor, noting it exceeded the period considered for the co-accused. On that combined basis of parity and prolonged custody, the petitioner was held entitled to bail.

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Issues: Whether the petitioner was entitled to bail on parity with similarly placed co-accused and in view of the period of incarceration already undergone.

Analysis: The petitioner's role was not found to include the main firing incident attributed in the case. The circumstances were treated as substantially similar to those of co-accused who had already been granted bail, and the petitioner had undergone incarceration of about 41/2 years, which was longer than the period considered for the released co-accused.

Conclusion: Bail was granted to the petitioner.

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