https://www.taxtmi.com/caselaws?id=457089 In an NDPS prosecution, hostile panch witnesses and prolonged custody of over two years justified bail despite Section 37(1)(b). The Court declined to treat the Investigating Officer as a substitute panch witness to continue denying liberty, and emphasised that failure to conclude the trial within a reasonable time engages Article 21 protection. Where continued incarceration becomes excessive and the trial remains incomplete, conditional liberty may prevail over the statutory embargo. Bail was therefore held justified, with release to be on terms fixed by the trial court. en-us Tue, 28 May 2024 00:00:00 +0530 Wed, 04 Sep 2024 20:05:34 +0530 TaxTMI RSS Generator https://www.taxtmi.com/caselaws?id=457089 In an NDPS prosecution, hostile panch witnesses and prolonged custody of over two years justified bail despite Section 37(1)(b). The Court declined to treat the Investigating Officer as a substitute panch witness to continue denying liberty, and emphasised that failure to conclude the trial within a reasonable time engages Article 21 protection. Where continued incarceration becomes excessive and the trial remains incomplete, conditional liberty may prevail over the statutory embargo. Bail was therefore held justified, with release to be on terms fixed by the trial court. Case-Laws Indian Laws Tue, 28 May 2024 00:00:00 +0530 https://www.taxtmi.com/caselaws?id=457089