In Brief
An accused charged with dowry death and murder under the Indian Penal Code had been on interim bail since November 2015 while the trial proceeded. The trial had reached an advanced stage with prosecution witnesses substantially examined. The Supreme Court converted the interim bail to absolute bail and directed the trial court to complete proceedings within six months, holding that continued interim status was unjust after such prolonged pendency. The Court made clear it expressed no opinion on the charges' merits, focusing solely on the procedural bail question."
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