Debasish Roy v. State (U.T. of Andaman and Nicobar Islands)
Bail – prolonged pre-trial detention – trial stagnation
Case brief
What is this about?
Conditional bail granted after nearly seven years' custody (arrested 29.03.2019); trial stalled with only 19 of 42 witnesses examined (last on 03.02.2026); initial charge sheet under Sections 302/397/201/34 IPC; supplementary charge sheets under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 pending cognizance before Trial Court; prosecution duty to expedite trial noted; bail on Rs. 20,000 bond with two sureties of Rs. 10,000 each, fortnightly reporting at Aberdeen Police Station, travel restricted to South Andaman district; CRM(M)/1/2026, Circuit Bench at Port Blair, decided 17.03.2026.
What did the court decide?
Prayer for bail allowed: petitioner to be released on bail upon bond of Rs. 20,000/- with two sureties of Rs. 10,000 each (one of whom must be local) to the satisfaction of the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Port Blair, subject to fortnightly attendance at Aberdeen Police Station till completion of trial and no travel outside the District of South Andaman without prior permission of the learned Trial Court; Trial Court empowered to cancel bail on violation of conditions.