The Supreme Court today rejected the bail application filed by a man allegedly involved in the Maoist movement and arrested by police a decade ago stating that the Court can only pass orders to expedite trial proceedings.
A Supreme Court Bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud, R. Subhash Reddy, and S. Ravindra Bhat on Tuesday rejected the bail plea of D. Kesava Rao, who is charged under Sec. 121/ 121(A)/ 122/ 147/ 148/ 342/ 302/ 396/ 450/ 436/ 353/ 427/ 120(B)/ 323/ 149 of IPC read with sections 25(1-A)/27 of Arms Act, under Section- 3 of PDPP Act, under Section-3 of E.S. Act and under section- 7 of Criminal Amendment Act.
During the hearing today, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that according to the prosecution story, the accused is connected with the Maoist movement. He further submitted that the petitioner has been in custody for 10 years and that the State Government should be compassionate to him.
Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said that the court can pass orders to expedite the trial. He further said that the trial should be completed by December 2021.
The Counsel for the petitioner then said that the High Court has passed similar orders two years ago and had directed the trial should be completed within four months and still nothing has happened.
Justice Chandrachud after hearing the council directed that the trial shall be concluded within 6 months. While rejecting the bail application, Justice Chandrachud said; “In the facts and circumstances, we are not inclined to grant bail. The trial should be completed on or before Dec 31, 2021. The learned trial court judge should submit the report before the Registrar General of this court when the trial is complete.”