In Brief
The Supreme Court clarified that Section 437(6) of the CrPC does not grant an absolute right to bail merely because trial has exceeded 60 days from first evidence date. The accused must have been in custody throughout. Bail can still be refused if delay is the accused's fault, evidence tampering is possible, or abscondence is likely. Different and weightier grounds apply than at initial bail stage. The Court stressed a liberal approach where documentary evidence predominates, no accused fault exists, and jail time is substantial relative to sentence. The appellant, accused in a Rs. 4 crore crypto fraud affecting 2000 investors, was granted bail with conditions including depositing Rs. 35 lakhs within six months."
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