Prolonged custody and trial delay justified conditional bail, while acquittal rendered the special leave petition infructuous.

Acquittal by the trial court rendered the special leave petition infructuous, so it was disposed of without merits. Prolonged custody, non-commencement of trial, continuing charge-framing, and the large prosecution witness list were treated as relevant to bail consideration, but that matter was kept pending for further hearing to explore a special-court arrangement. In the connected matter, long custody, no criminal antecedents, and the likely length of trial justified conditional release; bail was granted subject to stringent safeguards to secure attendance, prevent delay, and stop contact with witnesses, with liberty to seek cancellation on breach.

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Issues: (i) Whether the special leave petition became infructuous on account of the petitioner's acquittal by the Trial Court; (ii) whether prolonged custody and delay in commencement or conclusion of trial justified bail; (iii) whether bail should be granted subject to conditions in view of the volume of prosecution evidence and anticipated delay.

Issue (i): Whether the special leave petition became infructuous on account of the petitioner's acquittal by the Trial Court.

Analysis: The petitioner's acquittal by the Trial Court eliminated the live controversy in the matter. Once the underlying criminal case no longer survived against the petitioner, no adjudication on merits remained necessary.

Conclusion: The petition became infructuous and stood disposed of as such.

Issue (ii): Whether prolonged custody and delay in commencement or conclusion of trial justified bail.

Analysis: The petitioner had remained in custody since October 2022, the trial had not formally commenced, the charge-framing stage was still continuing, and the prosecution case involved examination of a very large number of witnesses. The delay was treated as sufficiently inordinate to justify consideration of release on bail, though the matter was kept pending for further hearing to explore a special-court arrangement.

Conclusion: The prayer was not finally decided on that date and the matter was posted for further hearing.

Issue (iii): Whether bail should be granted subject to conditions in view of the volume of prosecution evidence and anticipated delay.

Analysis: The petitioner had spent a long period in custody, had no criminal antecedents, and the trial was likely to take a considerable time. The Court considered that release on bail could be ordered if suitable safeguards were imposed to ensure attendance, prevent delay, and avoid contact with witnesses or associates.

Conclusion: Bail was granted subject to stringent conditions and liberty to seek cancellation upon breach.

Final Conclusion: The common order disposed of one petition as infructuous, kept one matter pending for further hearing, and granted conditional bail in the other matter.

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