High Court permitted regular bail at the pre-charge stage where...

High Court permitted regular bail at the pre-charge stage where the petitioner had undergone substantial custodial detention, faced allegations founded on documentary evidence, and the offence was triable by a Magistrate; the Court applied the principle that bail is ordinarily grantable absent extraordinary circumstances, noting the offence attracts a maximum punishment of five years. The petition was allowed and bail was ordered subject to furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the trial or duty Magistrate, with a mandatory prohibition on threatening or influencing prosecution witnesses directly or indirectly.

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