In Brief
Jeetendra was arrested on forgery charges relating to property documents furnished as bail security in a matrimonial case. After spending over a year in custody, the police re-investigated and filed a report concluding he had committed no offence. The High Court three times refused to grant bail, citing that the trial court had not yet accepted the closure report. The Supreme Court held that 'bail is rule, jail is exception' and must not be decided mechanically. It found the High Court's refusal unjustified given the closure report and period of custody. The Court allowed the appeal, set aside the High Court order, and made the interim bail absolute, releasing the appellant on the existing bail bonds.
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