📷 Image Credits: Indian Legal News
In a recent development, the Supreme Court of India rebuked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for the significant delay in the trial of a counterfeit currency case, which resulted in the accused spending four years in jail without a trial. The Division Bench, comprising of Justices JB Pardiwala and Ujjal Bhuyan, emphasized the fundamental right of an accused to a speedy trial under the Indian Constitution, regardless of the gravity of the offense. The Court exclaimed, ‘You are the NIA. Please do not make a mockery of justice. It is 4 years and the trial has not commenced. This is not done. Whatever offence the accused has committed, he has the right to speedy trial.’ The Court further stated that the right to a speedy trial, as enshrined in the constitution, was violated in this case.
The Court’s decision came in response to an appeal by the accused against a Bombay High Court order from February 2024 that denied bail. The accused was initially arrested by the Mumbai Police in 2020 on the basis of confidential documents, leading to the recovery of counterfeit currency notes allegedly from Pakistan. Subsequently, the NIA took over the case and revealed that the appellant had received the counterfeit currency during a trip to Dubai in February 2020.
Expressing disapproval of the undue delay in the trial, the Court granted bail to the accused, highlighting that two co-accused had already been granted bail. The Court pointed out that the accused had been an undertrial for four years, charges were not framed by the trial court, and the prosecution was yet to examine 80 witnesses. As a result, the Court overturned the Bombay High Court’s decision and granted bail to the accused, subject to specific conditions to be set by the trial court. The accused was directed to report to the NIA’s office in Bombay every 15 days.
The Supreme Court’s stance on ensuring a swift trial process and upholding the rights of the accused serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of timely justice delivery in the Indian legal system. Stay tuned to HeadlineFly.com for further updates on this case.
