Long incarceration, ailing mother prompt SC to grant interim bail to UAPA accused
The Supreme Court of India granted a 10-day interim bail to an undertrial accused under the UAPA, citing his nearly six-year incarceration and family medical emergencies. The court noted the slow pace of the trial, where only 20 of 50 witnesses have been examined.
Why it matters
The case highlights ongoing judicial concerns regarding the prolonged detention of undertrials and the application of stringent anti-terror laws in India.
The Supreme Court has granted interim bail to a man held as an undertrial for nearly six years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, allowing him to care for his ailing mother and hearing-impaired child.
A Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and A.G. Masih, in a recent order, also took into consideration his prolonged period of incarceration while his trial remained pending. The period of bail is only for 10 days, from Friday (September 11, 2026) to September 21, after which he has to surrender.
Senior advocate Siddharth Dave and advocate Neha Rathi, for the petitioner, said their client had already been behind bars for 5 years and 11 months. So far, only 20 prosecution witnesses have been examined out of a total of 50. There was no likelihood of the trial concluding anytime in the near future, with a majority of witnesses yet to be examined.
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